Wexford F.C. given the go-ahead

IT’S FULL steam ahead for Wexford F.C. after confirmation was received late last week that they have been awarded their license for the 2020 SSE Airtricity League season.

The squad has been strengthened further by the signing of goalkeeper Jack Lydon who has previous experience with Shelbourne and Athlone Town, and 19-year-old Gianpiero Fragnoli who spent last season with Cassino Calcio in Italy.

However, their fixture schedule remains in some doubt, as the participation of a Limerick team in the league still remains up in the air at the time of writing.

A second version of the games programme was released on January 24, allowing for the presence of eleven sides, including the Shannonsiders and Shamrock Rovers II.

And if that remains the case, then the full fixtures schedule will start with a series of shield matches before the league proper gets under way on March 27.

Shield Group A: away to Cobh Ramblers, Saturday, February 22, 7 p.m.; home to Cabinteely, Friday, February 28, 7.45 p.m.; away to U.C.D., Friday, March 6, 7.45 p.m.; away to Limerick, details to be confirmed; home to Bray Wanderers, Friday, March 20, 7.45 p.m.

League First Division: away to Athlone Town, Friday, March 27, 7.45 p.m.; home to Drogheda United, Friday, April 3, 7.45 p.m.; away to Cabinteely, Friday, April 10, 7.45 p.m.; home to Limerick, Friday, April 17, 7.45 p.m.; away to U.C.D., Friday, April 24, 7.45 p.m.

Home to Longford Town, Friday, May 1, 7.45 p.m.; away to Galway United, Friday, May 8, 7.45 p.m.; home to Bray Wanderers, Friday, May 15, 7.45 p.m.; away to Cobh Ramblers, Saturday, May 23, 7 p.m.

Home to Shamrock Rovers II, Friday, June 5, 7.45 p.m.; Home to Athlone Town, Friday, June 12, 7.45 p.m.; away to Drogheda United, Friday, June 26, 7.45 p.m.

Home to Cabinteely, Friday, July 3, 7.45 p.m.; away to Limerick, details to be confirmed; home to U.C.D., Friday, July 17, 7.45 p.m.; away to Longford Town, Saturday, July 25, 7.30 p.m.; home to Galway United, Friday, July 31, 7.45 p.m.

FAI Cup first round, week ending Sunday, August 9; away to Bray Wanderers, Friday, August 14, 7.45 p.m.; home to Cobh Ramblers, Friday, August 28, 7.45 p.m.

FAI Cup quarter-finals, week ending Sunday, September 6; away to Shamrock Rovers II, Sa turday, September 19, 7.45 p.m.; promotion/ relegation play-off series, October 2, 9, 16 and 23.