FOURWARD PLANNING..

THE FAI and IFA have announced there will be four teams included in the 2021 Unite the Union Champions Cup.

The decision was taken to expand the format after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the second year of the tournament.

Dundalk beat Linfield in the inaugural two-legged final last year (inset). Shamrock Rovers and Linfield will be joined by the next top-placed teams in the 2021 League of Ireland and 2020-21 Northern Ireland Football League seasons.