The last remaining member of the Derry City board tendered his resignation earlier today, paving the way for the beleaguered club to apply for reentry to the League of Ireland. Vice-chairman Stephen McCarron followed four other directors in parting company with City.

FAI chief executive John Delaney was in Derry today to meet local businessmen, the city’s mayor, former directors and officials to discuss the future of the club. And Delaney was encouraged by those meetings, claiming that any application to rejoin the league would be “looked upon favourably".

The club was expelled from the league last Saturday after it emerged players had been given secondary contracts.

The club, which finished fourth in the premier division, now faces the prospect of securing its survival by re-entering the league at a lower division.