League of Ireland First Division to progress with nine teams after Bray-Cabinteely merger

Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers have criticised "a completely random, ill-thought-out decision" by the FAI board to delay the start of the U14 National League season from February until July

The Carlisle Grounds in Bray. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The FAI is preparing to run next year’s First Division with just nine teams following Cabinteely’s takeover of Bray Wanderers.

Details of the alliance, as first revealed in the Irish Examiner on November 7, were outlined on Friday morning by chairman Tony Richardson and director of football Pat Devlin at the Carlisle Grounds.