Summer soccer on the way - March 13,
2001
The Eircom League clubs agreed in principal last night to switch the Irish soccer season to the summer. The details will be worked out later, but it was agreed to play from March to November with a mid-season break in June.
The huge number of cancellations due to bad weather this season - more than forty games postponed in December and January - was the deciding factor.
The change won't happen for at least two seasons and some clubs are still opposed.
The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland - the Eircom players' union - is also annoyed that they were not consulted. The clubs plan to set up a workshop to work out the finer points of the plan - and as things stand, the players' body is not invited.
PFAI rep Pat Fenlon of Shelbourne is on record as opposing the switch - pointing out that in places like Cork and Kilkenny, direct competition with the all-Ireland hurling and football championship season could prove fatal for soccer.