Players back on side with new deal

THE dispute over participation fees for the Airtricity League XI in the Dublin Super Cup has been resolved following discussions yesterday between the footballers’ union, the PFAI, and the director of the League, Fran Gavin.

The players had been dismayed by the revelation that, after tax, they were set to receive a total of around €300 to cover the games on Saturday and Sunday as well as six training sessions this week.

But following yesterday’s negotiations, their remuneration has now been revised upwards and, in a statement last night, the PFAI said: “The players are looking forward to playing at the weekend and are relieved to put this dispute behind them.”

In their own statement, the FAI said: “The matters raised by the PFAI have now been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”

Earlier in the day, Airtricity XI manager Damien Richardson had denied that the players had ever threatened a boycott of the tournament.

“Whoever was speaking about a strike has gone into orbit,” he said. “There will be nothing of that nature whatsoever. To say that there was any contemplation of a strike is a gross exaggeration.”

And former Cork City midfielder Joe Gamble, who recently joined Limerick from Hartlepool, characterised the players’ position as a request rather than an ultimatum.

“We just want to be treated fairly,” he said. “The facilities and the preparation have been fantastic, it’s being taken seriously and rightly so because we’re representing the League.

“We don’t want to be on Sky playing big teams like Man City and Celtic and doing a disservice to ourselves. If we want more people to come and new sponsors involved in the League we need to put a good show on and promote the League the best way we can. But I think the fee was too low. It’s probably more about the principle than the money itself. We’re not asking for 10 grand a man or something stupid. Just fair pay for the week. Everyone else will be making a few bob out of it.”