FDA boycott off the agenda after FAI ‘assurances’

ANY lingering fears of a boycott of SSE Airtricity League First Division matches involving Shamrock Rovers’ second team were allayed in a lengthy statement issued by the First Division Alliance last Thursday.

Drogheda United chairman Conor Hoey had spoken of his disgust at the admittance of a second team into the division in place of Limerick FC and his views were shared by the other nine clubs, with some threatening to boycott matches against Shamrock Rovers II and others to withdraw from the league.

The statement, released just a day before the start of the new First Division season, reiterates clubs’ opposition to ‘B’ teams but confirms that the games against Shamrock Rovers II would be fulfilled ‘under protest’ and ‘for the 2020 season only’ following ‘the assurances we have received from Gary Owens and Niall Quinn’.

Part of the statement read: ‘The First Division Alliance have been in ongoing discussions with the CEO and Deputy CEO of the FAI in recent weeks regarding the participation of Development teams in the League of Ireland First Division.

‘We are pleased that the Interim Chief Executive of the FAI, Gary Owens, acknowledges that the process through which a ‘B’ team has been admitted to the First Division could have been more engaging of all the clubs

‘The FDA have considered the possibility of legal action to prevent a Development’ team from participating in the First Division and we (based on advice) were confident of a successful action. However, the potential disruption of a lengthy legal action would be excessive and would delay significantly the beginning of the League.

‘We do not believe this would be in the best interests of our supporters, players, volunteers or indeed of football in Ireland.

‘We understand that a full review of the League of Ireland will be driven by the FAI in the next six months and that this will involve all elements of Structure, Participation and Governance.

‘Given the opposition of the majority of clubs to ‘Development’ team participation in the League of Ireland, we would welcome the consideration of various options in a future structure to assist with player pathway and development.

‘We are pleased that the review will include the National League Executive Committee and the Participation Agreement. The obvious neglect, in our opinion, of good corporate governance by the National League Executive Committee during this process shows that this Committee, as it stands, is not reflective of the views and needs of all our clubs.’

It has been agreed that Shamrock Rovers II will name a panel of specific Under-21 players only for 2020 and will only be able to utilise one outfield player and one keeper from their A team panel in any match-day squad.

‘The statement continued: ‘We realise that many of our fans would have preferred us to boycott matches against any ‘Development’ team, but the potential sanctions that we may face could put the very future of our clubs in jeopardy which we are not prepared to risk.

‘We look forward to working with our fellow LoI clubs and with the FAI in developing a revamped League structure that will enable a domestic National League to flourish.’