The FAI will this week start their search for a club to replace Dublin City with advertisements in the national papers after the proposed takeover of the Eircom League was voted through at their extraordinary general meeting in Cahir over the weekend.
Despite lingering discomfort in relation to the entire enterprise on the part of a minority of clubs, the 12 rule changes required to effectively vote the current league out of existence and replace it with a competition controlled by the FAI were adopted unanimously and without debate at Saturday's meeting.
In a statement issued by the organisation after the meeting, the FAI's chief executive, John Delaney, said, "This is a momentous day for Irish football because it brings the senior game under the direct control of the FAI. We can now direct the resources of the FAI towards the senior game and we look forward to the challenge ahead as we strive to improve all aspects of the league."
The chairman of the Eircom League, Paddy McCaul, added that he believed clubs could, "look forward to the reaping the benefits that this merger will bring".
With final approval for the venture now secured, preparations for the reformulated competition will accelerate and the search for a 22nd club will start immediately. Interested clubs will have to achieve the standards required for a first-division licence but will have only weeks to complete their applications.
The other 21 sides will have their chance toward the end of this month to convince the Independent Assessment Group (IAG) that they deserve a place in the top flight, with the committee scheduled to hear presentations on the 19th, 20th and 21st.
The committee will make its recommendations to the FAI on December 11th.
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