It is believed that the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) will now not be asked to contribute to an emergency fund for troubled League of Ireland clubs.
Last week, the FAI announced plans for a €300,000 escrow account that would be funded equally between them and the players' representative association.
Speaking to OTB AM last week, PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness had said, "To have a situation where you are looking for another party to get into an agreement with you – to put €150,000 in with three full-time staff – and not to discuss it with you directly...I was shocked."
Off the Ball now understands that clubs were informed this evening that the FAI will operate the fund worth €300,000 alone.
If a club avails of the fund, they will then be deducted six points and cannot register any new players and will also need to pay the fund back in full.
In addition, if a club fails to pay the money back by the end of the season, they will be relegated if they are in the Premier Division. If they are in the First Division instead, they will be deducted another six points and will be hit with another registration ban.
PFAI solicitor Stuart Gilhooly offered his immediate reaction to the development on Twitter:
Very interesting news on @SoccRepublic about @FAIreland agreeing to provide entire fund for unpaid players. First @PFAIOfficial have heard of it but nothing new there. Welcome news nonetheless. Looking forward to hearing details but certainly progress.
— Stuart Gilhooly (@PFAISolicitor) July 30, 2018
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