Dillon the favourite

With much of the routine work either taken care of already or deferred for a couple of weeks, the election of Michael Hyland's successor as chairman of the Eircom League will be the main focus of interest at the organisation's a.g.m. in Athlone this afternoon.

Brendan Dillon was elected to the post on a temporary basis when Hyland resigned last month with the UCD official beating Michael Cody in a closely-fought race.

Cody has decided against running on this occasion and so Dillon's opponent will be Drogheda-based solicitor Paddy Goodwin, a former director at United Park.

Those close to Goodwin, who has support from a number of prominent clubs, most notably Shelbourne, insist the outcome will again be tight but Dillon, who has firmly established himself in the committee structures of Merrion Square still looks a strong favourite to retain the position.

In addition to electing their new chairman the 22 clubs must vote in a new board of control, but little other business of a contentious nature is scheduled with consideration of the new rules having been put back by a couple of weeks.

With work on a new set of disciplinary regulations having been completed, however, the resulting document, as well as the accounts for the year, will be among the items up for discussion.

The league's clubs, meanwhile, continue their preparations for the start of the new season with a number of friendly games being confirmed yesterday.

Among the more attractive games lined up are the visit of Kilmarnock to Flancare Park next Friday evening and the meeting between Bohemians and Skonto Riga at Dalymount Park on the April 5th.