St Patrick's seek papers

Officials at the Eircom League now expect to receive a response today from St Patrick's Athletic in relation to charges that the club played Ugandan international Mbabazi five times while he was unregistered, writes Emmet Malone

Maurice Lyons, the solicitor acting for the Dublin club, said yesterday that a detailed letter would be sent to Merrion Square, but that before it could be completed, St Patrick's officials need to gain access to certain documents which have been requested from the league.

Though Lyons declined to specify what had been sought, it is believed that the documents involved include registration forms relating to two Shelbourne players, one from the 1998/99 season and the double winning team of two seasons ago.

League commissioner Roy Dooney said last night that the documents in question were in the league's archives and could not be accessed yesterday. He said that he expected the papers to be made available this morning after which, he has been assured, St Patrick's will supply its response to the allegations.

"That is the situation all right," confirmed Lyons. "As soon as we get them, we'll be in a position to send the league what is a very long letter dealing with the entire situation as we see it."

In that response, detailed allegations look certain to be levelled in relation to a number of players at Shelbourne and other clubs, but Tolka Park officials continued to insist yesterday that they had nothing to worry about.

"As far as I am aware, we have no problems in this area," said Shelbourne chairman Finbarr Flood, who added he did not dispute St Patrick's right to inspect the forms.

But clearly there is a belief at Richmond Park that the embattled club will be able to ensure their increasingly bitter rivals across the city will not come out of this saga unscathed.