PFAI issues notice to strike

THE Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland yesterday served strike notice on the National League's clubs in the latest twist to the ongoing dispute over changes introduced to the transfer system.

In a statement issued last night the association claims to have had "numerous meetings with the National League regarding the situation but to no avail. Therefore, in the interests of our members, we are left with no option but to take strike action."

The association have instructed their members to withdraw their services from their clubs as of Friday April 12th - a day when the third last round of matches in the league is due to start with Shelbourne, Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic all scheduled to play that evening.

The two parties were supposed to discuss the situation this week but the meeting was postponed by the league side who said that they would not be in a position to discuss proposed changes to the new system until April 24th.

A spokesperson for the players said last night that this was unacceptable and "to be honest it just looks like they are trying to get through to the end of the season. They just keep putting us off while we want to sit down and start sorting this out."

At issue is a new system of calculating transfer fees for players moving from one National League side to another. Under rules introduced last summer such a fee is calculated on the basis of the player's wages and other payments being multiplied by a figure which declines as the player gets older.

The PFAI argue that this will greatly increase fees and will therefore limit players' ability to move while also encouraging clubs to bring in players from overseas rather than buying more expensive home grown talent.

The union received a mandate from its members at its a.g.m.in February for strike action but waited until now while awaiting talks and clarification on any effect that the Bosman ruling in the European Court might have on the case.

League officials were surprised to hear of the decision last night. Enda McGuill, who was part of the league's negotiating team, said: "The league was never involved in stalling at any stage. I thought that the negotiations were going quite well and I would still be hopeful that this will be sorted out in time to avoid any action.