The vote not to enter into talks with the Government over their proposed National Stadium has sent the FAI into a mini-crisis. The FAI Board of Management voted 9-8 not to enter talks with the Government during a heated meeting on Wednesday night and the decision has prompted Galway United director John Byrne to tender his resignation.

Byrne's decision might start a snowball effect as disquiet grows through the ranks of the Eircom League clubs. It is believed that Sligo Rovers' Ray Gallagher is about follow the same path some time next week.

Byrne has been against the Eircom Park proposal since it was first planned and he felt he had not choice but to resign from the Board to keep his integrity.

Byrne said: "I had to resign if I wanted to be left with any sort of honour and integrity. At Wednesday's meeting I agreed with another director that our grouping would support the FAI's decision to go to the planning process in return for this director supporting us in the vote on whether we should enter into talks with the Government.

"When we didn't get that support in the vote (which was lost 9-8) I felt that out of loyalty to the men who had proposed the motion that I should resign."