Planned move to summer soccer

National League officials plan to meet with representatives of the senior game's players and referees over the coming week in the hope of securing their early agreement to the proposed switch to summer soccer which, it is intended, with be completed next year.

Representatives of the National League's 22 clubs mapped out the transition period of the planned switch at a meeting in Dublin on Saturday and there was broad agreement that next season would be the last played within the traditional months of August and May.

It is intended that the 2001/02 season will be followed within a matter of six weeks by a shortened six month campaign which will run until December 2002 and incorporate the numerical reorganisation of the two divisions already agreed. In March of the following year the first full championship to be run between the spring and October.

It was decided that Shelbourne had no right to influence the timing of the league game between Longford and Bohemians and, as the defending champions are anxious for both that game and their game against Shamrock Rovers to take place at the same time, it now appears that both will be played on Wednesday night.

The PFAI last night honoured three of the league's most prolific goalscorers at their annual awards ceremony in Dublin. Glen Crowe was named player of the year with the first division's top scorer, Andy Myler of Athlone Town, taking that division's accolade.

Shelbourne striker Richie Foran took the young player award while Theo Dunne took the special merit award.