The FAI's Interim Deputy CEO Niall Quinn says it would be "great" if the League of Ireland can resume next month, but he admits it's likely to be remain postponed for a longer period of time.
Games in the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions are on hold until at least March 29th, with the government expected to further extend the period of social isolation.
Clubs are set to meet with the FAI tomorrow with Quinn admitting it's a "difficult time" for all stakeholders in the league.
"Uefa’s desire to get domestic football finished by June is aspirational," the former Republic of Ireland striker told FAI TV.
We hope that that’s correct and obviously we’re different in that we’re a summer league, if we can get back playing in April, that’s great — with no problems — it looks unlikely at this point — and it looks like we will be out for a longer period of time.
“So for our League of Ireland clubs, there is a difficult time for all. And they are meeting again on Thursday to discuss this, we’re meeting with them and the players’ representatives as well regularly with the steering group. We’re all worried, we’re all hoping to find some pathways through this very difficult time."
Quinn says it would be preferable for games to resume only when supporters are allowed to return to stadiums and he says he sympathy for clubs now struggling to pay their players:
"I don’t think they want to play behind closed doors. We don’t have lucrative TV deals to make up for that happen. We need to be playing with crowds and the system works that way. There is a lot of talking to be done with the stakeholders. We’re here to do that talking. We’re here to help in any way we can.
"It’s difficult for players but when you take a peep outside football and see the devastation, talk of 200,000 being let go this week, it’s a nationwide problem, it’s awful. How do we best prepare our clubs and players for it and assist them with it? We’re wading through it right now, there is a lot of discussion, there is huge sympathy for what’s happening out there. We’re hoping that repaying owed fees will help, in other ways, we can find some more revenue creating opportunities for clubs.”
