Airtricity League prize fund increased to €475,500

After what director Fran Gavin described as “several years of recession”, it seems the Airtricity League is set to feel the first stirrings of the economic recovery with the news that the prize fund has been increased this season, from €315,500 to €475,500.

With money for the EA Sports Cup, the FAI Cup, Uefa Fair Play payments and €1.15m for European qualification added on, the FAI say that the total pot for the 2016 domestic season which kicks off on March 4 will be close to €1.75m.

The increase in the league prize fund — the detailed breakdown of which will be released next week — is actually, in large part, the result of a commercial deal which the FAI originally announced in December.