THE CLUBS ARE GIVING THE FAI TIME TO SORT OUT THE FINANCIAL PACKAGE AND THAT’S GOING TO BE KEY TO FOOTBALL RETURNING THIS YEAR

THERE are growing fears among clubs and players that the SSE Airtricity League may not return this season.

While a possible re-start date for the league of August 14th was mentioned last week, the failure to the FAI to secure an appropriate financial package to satisfy clubs to return to action behind closed doors means there may not be any more action in 2020.

For Dundalk FC that could mean that the remainder of this season consists of just the four-team tournament involving themselves and fellow European qualifiers Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Derry City, as well as however far they go in Europe.

Even if the league returns, it is likely to be cut even further from three to two rounds. That could mean that the Lilywhites have just 13 league games to play this season, although the preference among most clubs is understood to be to scrap the previous five games played in February and March and start afresh with two rounds of 18 matches so that each team plays each other home and away.

For that to proceed, a financial package - of which Government support would be vital - would be needed with the cost of testing players for Covid-19 said to be substantial.

Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers was part of a delegation of around 20 players from throughout the league who were on a conference call with the FAI’s Niall Quinn on Friday to discuss a possible resumption of play. He told The Argus that starting afresh with two rounds of games was the most likely option if the league were to return.

‘We talked about the possible date of August 14th with just two rounds of matches.

We’ve already played five.

‘It’s not much of an incentive for some of the teams to come back if that’s the case.’

Rogers said few details were available at this stage on the proposed four-team tournament but he said this would likely become clearer in the next few weeks when UEFA confirm the dates for the European qualifiers.

‘The July tournament is not finalised yet in terms of the amount of games,’ he said.

‘They’re waiting on the UEFA meeting which is due to take place on June 17th which will confirm when the European games will be played.

‘It looks like they will be played but there is certainly talk around the dates of when they will be played so the dates of that July tournament have to be finalised because it may have to move depending on whatever date Europe starts.

‘That’s why it’s not pencilled in just yet so it’ll probably be mid-June before they announce the start dates for that but we’re still looking to go back training next week.

‘We had a first round of negative Covid-19 tests last week which is good so we’ll just have to see what the next few weeks bring.’

Rogers, the outgoing PFAI chairman, admitted players across the league were growing frustrated at the lack of a return date.

‘It’s a slow process, which has been frustrating for the players. Four teams know that they’ll have games in July but there are 16 other teams who don’t have a start date yet. They’re still expected to train and some of them are obviously not being paid at the minute as well.

‘There’s a lot of players out there who don’t know when their next game is going to be as it stands.

‘The clubs are giving the FAI time to sort out the financial package and that’s going to be key to football returning this year,’ he said.

While there had been fears that the European qualifiers might be scrapped, Rogers is confident they will proceed and said the four team tournament will be vital in terms of helping the clubs prepare for that.

‘It looks like the Qualifiers will go ahead, maybe a couple of weeks later than planned, but we’re working towards a July/August European date and that tournament will take on a massive importance in terms of preparation for that.

‘I think July 20th was mentioned but that may need to change depending on the outcome of the meeting in June. That’s my understanding of it.

‘It’s key that we get that tournament up and running but you’d like to see league football coming on stream as