Eircom players hail new era - March 15,
2001
The PFAI and the Eircom League had an historic first meeting yesterday to discuss issues affecting players - and now the players are hailing a new era of co-operation.
The players were delighted to extract a promise that the League will impose sanctions on a number of clubs over their treatment of players.
And PFAI rep Pat Fenlon off Shelbourne emerged from the meeting to say: " We are quite happy with the way the discussions went and will look forward to even more co-operation between ourselves and the league in future".
"We took a full agenda into the meeting regarding the running and structure of the league and the problems players have been experiencing with certain clubs.
"We want the league to help us iron out the problems of certain clubs not paying players' wages and the fact that come contracts have been terminated without just cause. It is not a widespread problem but it is the same four or five clubs that have been doing this for some time.
"This is obviously a priority for us and it is in the league's interests to intercede because they don't want to hear us complaining over and over.
"We also wanted to discuss various other topics such as insurance for players, health and safety around National League clubs and at the various training grounds used by clubs around the country," Fenlon told the Examiner newspaper.
Meanwhile, the League will learn today from Department of Agriculture officials whether they can go ahead with four FAI Cup matches the weekend afer next.