National League club representatives last night failed to resolve their differences over the proposed restructuring of the Eircom-sponsored competition.
A decision on the issue of the season's timing was also deferred, as the clubs decided to await clarification from FIFA on their intentions to develop an internationally co-ordinated season.
Discussions on the restructuring of the 22-team league took up most of the two-hour meeting at the Alexander Hotel yesterday afternoon, but hopes that a decision, which might then be endorsed by the board of management meeting which followed, evaporated.
A proposal from Derry City that there be a 10-team premier division, with no promotion or relegation for a set period, was withdrawn. So too was a St Patrick's Athletic motion aimed at maintaining the status quo.
For the moment, however, that is what the clubs must make do with, as the only motion which was voted upon - from Bray Wanderers aimed at establishing a single division comprising all 22 clubs - was defeated by 12 votes to 10, with four representatives from the first division siding with the premier division clubs.
According to one delegate whose club has been in favour of expanding the top flight, there was a growing feeling among those present that the 10-team premier is becoming something of an inevitability, although agreement on a fair transition is still some way off.
The matter is now likely to be discussed by representative working groups over the coming months, although not even the composition of these committees was agreed last night and it is unclear when the clubs will meet again.
At last night's board of management meeting, meanwhile, the FAI general secretary, Bernard O'Byrne, again addressed the concerns of the clubs with regard to Eircom Park. It was, according to one official, "a very good meeting" after which he had the support of "95 per cent of the clubs".
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