Drogheda United will offer their players a slight increase on the financial settlement they rejected for the second time yesterday, after meeting with FAI chief executive John Delaney this morning.
The players have until Friday to respond after the PFAI's Stephen McGuinness met with club chairman Vincent Hoey, interim committee member Dermot McKenna and Delaney in Abbotstown this morning and argued yesterday's deadline, set for 5pm today, was unrealistic.
"We are indebted to FAI CEO John Delaney for his efforts over the last few days and for facilitating this meeting," Hoey said this afternoon, though he did not reveal the new deadline or the nature of the imrpoved offer.
The date for the High Court hearing into the examinership process has also been deferred until January 22nd. It was initially anticipated the hearing would be next Monday but Hoey confirmed the club had a little more breathing space this afternoon.
"I have just received communication from the High Court that the hearing has now been listed for the 22nd January which gives us more time to sort all issues out," Hoey added in a statement.
Speaking on behalf of the players yesterday, McGuinness said the initial offer of €91,000 was unacceptable but his members would be open to a deal that saw them get paid more later in the year.
Yesterday, a club statement insisted asking the players to reconsider the first offer was necessary because there was absolutely no more money available.
The club raised in the region of €250,000 from fans and the general public after an appeal in early December, but it owes the Revenue Commissioners €500,000, while the examinership process alone will cost in the region of €120,000.
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