O'Byrne back in the game as CEO

After a long spell away from the game, former chief executive of the FAI, Bernard O'Byrne, has been appointed to the same position at St Patrick's Athletic.

The news will be confirmed today at a press conference in Inchicore where the man behind the ill-fated Eircom Park scheme will outline his plans for the future of the Richmond Park outfit.

It is a somewhat unexpected return to soccer for O'Byrne who was forced out of Merrion Square in the wake of the collapse of the Eircom Park project. John Delaney, John Byrne and Brendan Menton led the opposition to the scheme he championed.

Delaney was recently appointed to the association's top job himself and Byrne is an influential figure within the organisation while Menton, who succeeded O'Byrne, resigned himself in the wake of the Genesis report.

It looks, however, to be a very good move for a club that has experienced severe financial problems over the past couple of years and is attempting, while keeping costs under control on its playing side, to move ahead with long-delayed plans to develop its ground, improve facilities and overhaul its structures.

Despite criticisms of the manner in which he attempted to pursue the development of the association's own stadium, O'Byrne is a well-regarded administrator who has extensive business experience, most notably at Cement Roadstone. He has been heavily involved with the game on a number of levels for many years.

"I feel that this is an exceptional appointment," said St Patrick's chairman, Andy O'Callaghan yesterday. "We have come through some difficult times in recent years, but now have a very strong base on which to build."

O'Byrne said he was thrilled with his move to Richmond Park where one of his first tasks will be to oversee construction of a new stand and other substantial development work. "I am absolutely delighted to be joining the club that I first followed as a schoolboy over 40 years ago."

Meanwhile, Bohemians will take on Belgian opposition in this summer's Inter-Toto Cup. The Dubliners will not know until the end of the Belgian league season who their opponents will be, but their home tie will take place June 18th with the return match coming one week later.

Dundalk have confirmed to the league they intend to play their home game against Limerick on April 21st at United Park. The club is still unable to play at Oriel Park because of serious problems associated with their attempt to install an artificial pitch.

The games against Monaghan United and Athlone Town, both scheduled for early May, look likely to be switched too although Dundalk's chief executive, Seán Connolly, said yesterday that he hopes the pitch will be in place in time for those matches to be played at the club's own ground.