HARP LAGER yesterday confirmed that they had reached an agreement with the FAI to sponsor the National League for the next three seasons. Alas, even this isolated case of good news for the beleagured FAI again exposed the association's sieve like properties.

It had been Harp's intention to announce the sponsorship at a press conference today but, as a spokesperson for the company said, "unfortunately, as this story has now broken, this is no longer appropriate".

The spokesperson added: "Yes, there is an agreement but we are most unhappy about the way things were done. Really, it's only more of what's been happening."