Costly climbdown by league

The National League made a dramatic climbdown in the High Court yesterday when their case against Bohemians over the registration of David Williamson was settled prior to the scheduled hearing. The settlement is believed to have cost the league £20,000.

Under the terms of the agreement the National League has admitted that it was wrong to have instructed Sligo Rovers not to send a clearance for Williamson, who had played one game for the club before moving on to Bohemians, and conceded that Rule 36, the four-week rule, is "inadequate".

Under the rule a player may not sign for one National League club for at least four weeks after first signing for another.

Under the terms of an "agreed financial settlement", Bohemians have in turn agreed not to play Williamson in the league or cup this season. The player is now likely to be loaned to a club in another league for the rest of the season.

"I am delighted that this case has concluded with an acceptance that the club acted properly," said Bohemians president Felim O'Reilly in a statement yesterday. "I would like to point out that the club regrets that it had to embark on court action to remedy this situation."

It emerged last night that an earlier compromise had been rejected by the league's Board of Control on Wednesday night. The deal was trashed out between Bohemians and league negotiators John Delaney of Waterford United and Michael Cody of Cobh Ramblers. However, it was subsequently rejected by a meeting of the board of control on the casting vote of league president Michael Hyland. Delaney and Cody offered their resignation following this decision.

Further controversy still surrounds the role of Hyland and other senior officials in the transfer itself. Prior to the scheduled court case Sligo Rovers club secretary Mary McGowan swore an affidavit in which she claimed to have been told by league administrator Jenni Stanley, who said she was acting on the instructions of Hyland, not to forward the player's release by the January 31st transfer deadline.

An attempt was subsequently made by league officials to argue that the fact that it was not forwarded was the basis for their refusal to allow Williamson to play. Questions have also been asked as to how a board of management meeting on February 14th was not informed of a letter from Bohemians' solicitors, sent a week previously, which had threatened legal action.