The options for a return to play in the League of Ireland are many, but as it stands, we are no closer to an agreed plan.
Premier and First Division clubs have been in discussion with the FAI to try and reach an agreement on how best to resume play.
Early in the covid lockdown the main concern was player safety - this of course was while the country was at the height of isolation and reduced activity.
As the health concerns were alleviated, the conversation moved on to financial security. Clubs had been struggling even when ticket sales supported them - but they were now forced to consider playing games in empty stadiums with a heavy drop in revenue. Government support has helped ease concerns around financial viability, but the latest issues are tied in to relegation/promotion talks.
Both Waterford FC and Sligo Rovers are in support of a play-off game with the first division champions to decide who goes down and who stays up.
St Patricks Athletic chairman Garrett Kelleher has given voice to the option of straight relegation for just the bottom placed side, with just one team to come up from the first division.
First division club Drogheda United have set out there stall with the proposal of an expanded 12 team Premier Division next season- the FAI seemingly in support of this idea. This plan would see the first division champions promoted - while the bottom two teams of the Premier Division would go into playoffs with the second and third placed teams of the first division. The winners of those games would be take a premier division spot while the losers would enter a playoff for 12th spot in the Premier Division.
An ultimatum of sorts was issued by the FAI earlier this week when a letter from their legal department was sent to clubs informing them that if a decision can not be reached by clubs then a decision will be made by the FAI in the "best interests of Irish football" if required.
A resolution is expected early next week.
Dan McDonnell of the Irish Independent joined Nigel on this weeks 'On The Ball with Nigel Kelly' for a chat about the situation as it currently stands. You can hear the full piece on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/15uDHPfVAOu9WHSPbxdflW?si=BgfrzvwJRmevrbMCFwvEdQ
