Shamrock Rovers chairman Tony Maguire has rejected claims that the club has failed to honour an agreement to meet outstanding wages to its players.

Having refused to train on Tuesday, the players issued a statement yesterday through their union, the PFAI, stating that they would fulfil tomorrow night's home fixture with Derry City, but have threatened to escalate their industrial action if the situation isn't resolved.

"The players expressed their disappointment and frustration with the club for failing to honour their commitments to pay outstanding wages due to them," the statement said. "The squad will train on Thursday and will fulfil their fixture against Derry City on Friday.

"However, following the game, the players will reassess the situation and have agreed to escalate their industrial action if the club do not honour their financial commitments, which are increasing as the weeks go by."

Yesterday Maguire said: "I'm very disappointed that this statement was issued by the PFAI. I contacted the PFAI this morning before the statement was issued requesting a meeting to discuss the issue.

"I notice in their statement that they say the club hasn't honoured our recent agreement. I would refute that completely.

"As far as the club is concerned we offered an agreement which stated that on the basis that our investment deal on the stadium is completed we would honour any outstanding payments within four weeks of that date.

"In fairness to the players, we did state that we had hoped that would have happened at the end of August.

"That didn't happen at the end of August and, as I speak, it hasn't happened. We do expect it to happen shortly. I know I keep saying that, but it is true.

"Their interpretation is that four weeks from the end of August is the beginning of October and my interpretation is that it is four weeks after we do our deal.

"That's where the misunderstanding comes into play. I would have felt that to try to alleviate any misunderstanding is for us all to sit down and talk about it."

Meanwhile, Longford Town captain Barry Ferguson will miss the FAI Cup final with Waterford United later this month due to a one-match suspension issued yesterday.

Ferguson, man of the match in Tuesday night's semi-final replay win over Drogheda United, is banned for an accumulation of eight bookings. The suspension is effective from Wednesday, October 20th, meaning he misses the final the following Sunday.

The club will make representations to the league in relation to the issue but, as there is no appeal process, it appears little can be done.

Longford are scheduled to play Cork City at home in a back match on October 19th, but any attempt to move that back a day is likely to meet with protests from Waterford United.

"All our sympathy is with Barry. It's very harsh on him given his performances over the two semi-final games and that he's the captain and leader of the team," said Longford manager Alan Mathews.

Waterford United's Irish under-21 international Daryl Murphy has been named the Eircom-sponsored SWAI Player of the Month for September.