Dundalk have called on the FAI to “do the right thing” and install them to the Europa League at the expense of Cork City.
Yesterday’s decision by the FAI’s licensing committee to grant the Leesiders additional time to prove their finances are in order before making a decision on their eligibility to compete in the top division was today described by Dundalk as an uneven application of the rules and regulations.
Dundalk have claimed it is “pretty obvious” Cork did “not hold the required tax clearance certificate at the close-off date” and expressed “empathy” with Bray Wanderers who must wait to see if they are to get a late reprieve and be included in the top flight.
Dundalk held a board meeting last night in which the issues were discussed and in a statement released today communications manager Colm Crosson said: “In relation to the Europa League, we expect to be nominated as the League of Ireland's third representative and we will be making our feelings known in no uncertain terms to the FAI.
“The additional ambiguity about our initial series of fixtures is an inconvenience for the club and its supporters, although Europa League nomination and the application of fair play are the fundamental issues.
“We expect the FAI and the Independent Club Licensing Committee to do the right thing when eventually the decisions are finally announced."
As it stands, Cork are due to host Dundalk in their opening fixture of the season on March 5th if the the takeover of the club by a new consortium goes through and they are granted a licence.