Limerick win more time

National League News: Limerick's hopes of League of Ireland survival were maintained yesterday when the club obtained an interim injunction from the High Court in Dublin which in effect prevents the FAI from replacing the club until the issues involved are more fully explored.

The case, which is to return to court next Monday, means the association cannot move to conclude any contracts, sanction participation agreements or grant licenses to any new clubs, and as such it will delay the organisation's attempt to finalise a line-up for next season's First Division, a process which was to be advanced significantly today, the deadline for the receipt of completed participation agreements from clubs around the country.

"I'd be the first to admit that this isn't good for Irish football," said Limerick chairman Danny Drew last night, " but what I'd say is that we never wanted to go down this road. The simple fact is, though, that we've been looking for a fair hearing in relation to our continued membership of the league for several weeks and we haven't been able to obtain one.

"We've said all along that we had a case to make and I think today's decision suggests that a judge, having assessed the facts, agrees.

"Our preference now would be for some form of mediation overseen by a respected member of the outside community, but if that isn't achievable and the FAI is determined to be unreasonable about this then so be it, we'll go for a full hearing."

The injunction prevents the applications by Limerick 37 and Wexford Youths to join the league from being processed.

"It isn't our intention to target either of those two clubs," Drew said, "and we believe that the city of Limerick is big enough for two clubs. But we have no option but to take this course of action."

Drew conceded there have been problems with the club in recent times, but insisted that it is now in a position to meet all of the requirements of the licensing scheme which it was previously adjudged to have failed.

A spokesman for the FAI, who were not made aware of yesterday's hearing in advance and who were not represented in court, said they could not comment until papers are served on them.