James McClean, Enda Stevens, and Kevin Long are behind the initiative.

The Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland is in emergency talks with Airtricity League clubs after Drogheda United stopped paying players and staff as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

League of Ireland fixtures are still set to go ahead as scheduled this weekend but the domestic game is now bracing itself for the full impact of the spread of coronavirus, including the likelihood of an imminent shutdown of the SSE Airtricity League.

There may only be a couple of kilometres between the two sides geographically, but on the pitch there wasn’t an inch given.

A defensive error brought a tame game to life as Bohemians clinically punished their visitors to take a ninth minute lead.

A horrid night for football was decided by two defensive mistakes as Bohemian FC got over the disappointment of a Dublin derby defeat to get the better of Waterford FC at a rain-lashed and windswept RSC.

Unions representing staff at the Football Association of Ireland are confident of minimal job losses at the cash-strapped organisation following talks with Shane Ross.

“I'm open to talk to anybody who has got constructive suggestions about the FAI, because the FAI is a complete and utter basketcase."

The general secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI), Stephen McGuinness, has welcomed a suggestion devised by FAI staff members, that the state would fund a new body that would solely govern grassroots and community football.

League of Ireland clubs could be facing a hefty additional cost if the bid by the Players Football Association of Ireland (PFAI) to pursue holiday pay entitlements for their members comes to fruition.

Uefa are making their top finance man available to the FAI as the organisation seeks to move on from the current crisis.

Limerick FC have responded to their players’ threat of strike action by inviting officials from the footballers’ union to talks on Monday.

Niall Quinn yesterday described the FAI board’s intention to step down as “good news” and “a catalyst for serious change”.

The head of the players’ union in Ireland has heralded the news that the FAI board is planning to step down as an opportunity for real progress in the administration of the game here.

A new alliance and lobby group representing the interests of jockeys, GAA, soccer, and rugby players, is set to be launched in the coming weeks.

In the absence this year of FAI support for the PFAI’s annual training camp for out of contract League of Ireland footballers, the players’ union has had to dig into its own resources and rely on the charity of clubs and others to ensure that the 2017 programme could kick off as planned yesterday.

Dundalk 3 Drogheda United 0: Dundalk are refusing to give up on their title.

Bray Wanderers 2

Fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers moved four points ahead of Derry and built up to Thursday’s Europa League test against Icelandic Stjarnan in style by hammering Drogheda last night.

Drogheda United 0 - Dundalk 6: Dundalk remain on course for a second-place finish behind champions-elect Cork City following this derby rout of 10-man Drogheda at United Park.

Cork City FC 5 Drogheda United 0: Cork City provided emphatic proof that the end of their winning run was merely a blip as Drogheda United were shrugged aside with ease at Turner’s Cross last night.

The payment of a €300 match fee as well as €150 win and €75 draw bonuses, the introduction with immediate effect of compensation for loss of earnings and the provision of appropriate tracksuits were among the issues agreed in the comprehensive deal struck between the FAI and Ireland’s senior women’s team after nine hours of talks on Wednesday night.

Dundalk’s bid to retain their title may have taken a dent last week but their status as top dogs in Louth was assured with victory over neighbours Drogheda Utd in Oriel Park last night.

Drogheda United 1 Cork City 4: Cork City leapfrogged Dundalk to move top of the Premier Division table after a convincing win over 10-man Drogheda at United Park.

If the strength of an industry can be judged by how its most vulnerable are treated, then the League of Ireland has deep problems.

Wexford Youths 2 Drogheda United 0: It was a Halloween treat for Wexford Youths as two superb second-half goals handed them the advantage over Drogheda United following this first-leg promotion/relegation playoff at Ferrycarrig Park last night.

The FAI have defended the safety of artificial pitches after concerns were raised in England that a young goalkeeper’s Hodgkin’s lymphoma might be linked to contact with the rubber pellets used in 3G surfaces.

Dundalk 8 Bray Wanderers 1: Dundalk hit Bray Wanderers for eight at Oriel Park yesterday to end the first series of matches in style with their unbeaten record firmly intact.

A lawyer who suggested convicted rapist Ched Evans could be innocent has defended his views after they were removed from the website on which they were first published.

On the night that Bray Wanderers all but ensured their safety, Dundalk failed to keep up their side of the bargain and handed advantage to Cork City ahead of their final-day showdown on Friday, despite coming from a goal down.

SSE Airtricity League

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Bray Wanderers 2

Bray Wanderers 0 Cork City 2

Over a quarter of current professional footballers suffer from depression or anxiety, a new study has found.

The FAI will today open a confidential telephone line as part of its increased vigilance to protect the integrity of football in Ireland.

Stephen McGuinness, secretary of the Players’ Football Association of Ireland (PFAI), is adamant that serious barriers have to be broken down to facilitate players coming out as gay.