Cork were relegated from the six-team Division 1A in April when they lost a play-off to eventual All-Ireland champions Clare, while Limerick, the Division 1B table toppers, missed out on promotion to the top flight in a play-off defeat to Dublin.

In the restructured league, Division 1B would continue to have six teams for next season - Wexford, Offaly, Laois, Antrim, Carlow and Westmeath - with Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway, Waterford, Clare, Dublin, Limerick and Cork competing in a revised eight-team Division 1A.

The proposal came about following discussions with county officers about the National Hurling Development Plan, with the GAA confirming: "On the advice of CCCC, in accordance with Rule 6.37 of the Official Guide, a proposal which would increase the total number of teams in Divisions 1A and 1B from 12 to 14 will be put before Central Council for consideration at its meeting on October 12."

Following the regulation rounds, the top three finishers in Division 1A and the Division 1B winners would advance to the semi-finals.

The bottom-placed team in Division 1A would be automatically relegated, with the seventh-placed side facing a relegation/promotion play-off against the losers of the Division 1B final.

In accordance with Rule 3.44 (h), a simple majority vote by Central Council will be required to reverse what was agreed in December 2012 - six-team Divisions 1A and 1B for next season, with the introduction of Division 1 quarter-finals (1st Div 1A v 4th Div 1B, 2nd Div 1A v 3rd Div 1B, 3rd Div 1A v 2nd Div 1B, 4th Div 1A v 1st Div 1B).

If the new proposal is accepted, Central Council will be asked to approve this structure for a five-year period.

Should that come to pass, Liam Dunne's Wexford side will miss out next spring on playing the two 2013 Munster finalists - Cork and Limerick - and he believes the restructuring is only about suiting the "stronger counties".

"Cork get relegated last season and sure they are going to do their best to try and put them back into it by hook or by crook," Dunne told the Irish Daily Star.

"The stronger counties don't give a hoot about Wexford and Offaly. All they want is the top teams in the top division to play one another. The rules change whenever Croke Park feel they need to change them.

"A couple of years ago Wexford hurled the right to stay in Division 1A and were put back in Division 1B (after a restructure).

"Cork and another team - it could easily have been Clare - should take their medicine, come back to Division 1B and leave it the way it is."

He added: "They are all talking about wanting to promote hurling all the time, but all they are doing is shooting it in the foot.

"We've had one of the best seasons ever in hurling and they come along and do something like that. I hope (GAA President) Liam O'Neill will stand up to his as a hurling man. Hurling's on the crest of a wave, keep it going.

"The words he spoke on 'The Sunday Game' - about the great summer - I think he's shooting himself in his foot if he's going to let this proposal go through."

Meanwhile, predictably, County Board officials from the proposed restructure's main beneficiaries - Cork and Limerick - have come out in support of it.

Cork GAA Chairman Bob Ryan told the Irish Examiner: "We welcome this change. It's a good thing, it will allow this Cork team to continue its excellent progress by getting good quality games against the top teams.

"This proposal is, we feel, the best solution. It gives the top teams seven games each and those games will help them ahead of the Championship.

"What I would like to put on record is how grateful we are to Liam O'Neill and Paraic Duffy. They have taken our suggestions on board. They have brought it to Central Council now and hopefully they will vote it through."

Giving the reaction of Munster champions Limerick, the Shannonsiders' Chairman Oliver Mann commented: "Naturally it would be a boost on many levels. It would give us more high profile games which in turn means bigger attendances and that then leads to a boost in finances for ourselves and the hospitality industry in Limerick.

"It would also be a huge advantage to our hurlers, without being disrespectful to any other counties, to be playing those top teams on a regular basis."