Euro cash lift for Saints as Lincoln make move for Rovers boss Bradley

ST Patrick’s Athletic have landed a €200,000 Europa Conference League windfall after UEFA suspended all Russian clubs from Euro competition. As holders of the Extra.ie FAI Cup, the Saints have been bumped up from the first qualifying round to the second qualifying round which guarantees them a bigger payday. All clubs eliminated in the first round receive a €150,000 payment but a second round exit is worth €350,000. The upgrade means the Saints won’t be involved in the ECL until July 21July 28, a week after Sligo Rovers and Derry City are in action. All three Irish clubs receive a fee of €100,000 for participation in UEFA’s third-tier competition. Lincoln City have made ‘a formal approach’ to Shamrock Rovers to speak to boss Stephen Bradley about the vacancy at the League One club. The Imps, who finished 17th in the table, have identified Bradley as a potential successor to Michael Appleton who left the club after three seasons in charge. If talks are successful, Bradley would have a clear run at appointing his backroom staff and overseeing preseason preparations. It’s 61 years since Lincoln were last in the second tier of English football. Bradley’s stock has risen following 2019 FAI Cup success with Rovers, and back-to-back league titles in 2020 and 2021. He was linked to the MK Dons post last August. It remains to be seen if Bradley will still be in charge of the Hoops for the top-of-the-table clash against Derry City in Tallaght Stadium on Friday, May 13, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ.