The Donegal manager, Declan Bonner, has moved to allay fears that he will prevent his players from being with their clubs next April.
The master fixture plan, devised by the GAA, has left April free of inter-county action.
Donegal open their Ulster SFC campaign next year in the preliminary round against Cavan on May 13.
The Club Players Association have drafted eight motions that they hope clubs and county boards will bring forward to next year’s GAA congress, including a complete ban on inter-county activity for four weekends over April and May.
“April will be an important month for us because it’s so close to the Cavan game,” Bonner said.
“We will obviously have to prepare the team and the players as best we can in the run-in to May 13.
“But at no stage did I say that the players would not be released to the clubs. That isn’t my intention at all.
“We have to work with the clubs and we don’t want to arrive at a scenario where clubs are basically punished for having inter-county standard players.
“I am Chairman of Na Rossa myself and know well the pressure and strain that is on clubs. I certainly don’t want to be adding to the burden on clubs.
“The clubs and the people in the clubs will appreciate that April and May will be difficult periods because the Cavan game will be looming, but I do want to reassure them that there won’t be a ‘ban’ imposed on anyone in the Donegal squad.”
On Monday night, the Dongeal county committee voted to retain the existing format for the All-County Football League. There had been extensive talks and workshops on the topic of late but clubs have decided to retain the status quo for 2018.
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