‘Promotion a red line issue’

A RESOLUTION to the impasse over a return date for the League of Ireland was inching closer yesterday (Monday) and the latest developments could be good news for Drogheda United.

With one or two Premier Division clubs arguing that relegation would be unfair if only 18 league games were played, the possibility of the top flight expanding to 12 clubs next season is being explored and that could mean two automatic promotion places being up for grabs.

From Drogheda’s point of view that would be a welcome scenario, given that they finished second last season and missed out on promotion via a play-off against Finn Harps, while 12 months previously the men from Ballybofey also scuppered the Boynesiders’ chances after they’d placed fourth.

And if Premier clubs did reach agreement that the bottom team would enter a play-off, then sides who finish outside the top two in the First Division would come into the equation as possible opponents.

League of Ireland clubs will meet up with the FAI again today after internal discussions over the weekend and First Division representatives seem adamant that the reward of promotion must remain - even if Premier clubs get their way and have the threat of automatic relegation from the top flight removed.

Drogheda chairman Conor Hoey said: ‘We had a few meetings over the weekend with the First Division clubs to get some of our red lines clear about going back.

‘We’re looking for an improved financial offer and to keep promotion to the Premier. We usually get a reasonable sum of solidarity money from Uefa which helps run the youth section of the club and that money is being paid to us early.

‘But the offer includes prize-money as well, so if we won the First Division, which I think has a €30,000 prize, we wouldn’t get anything for that.

‘There’s still a big gap between clubs in the lower reaches of the Premier and teams in the First Division. They’re getting €190,000 and we’re getting €75,000 and it’s not as if they have much higher wages than us.

‘We just need to have a definite figure so we can then see what money we have to run the club and then make some assumptions around crowds and how much sponsorship we’ll receive given how difficult these times are for everybody.

‘The number one thing is to keep the club in good financial order, but we will make it work and be back playing and we will have promotion. That’s a red liner and we’re not playing unless there’s promotion.

‘The guys are raring to go and Tim [Clancy] is itching to get back and we’re talking about training starting up again. We have a fantastic squad and please God we’ll get back playing soon.’

Meanwhile, the Drogheda United lotto jackpot of €10,000 has been won by Robbie Connell and the jackpot reverts back to €2,000 for the next draw.