A significant thawing in relations yesterday between the FAI/National League and the PFAI gave hope that the threatened strike this week-end by the players' union may be averted.

Representatives of the two bodies met in Merrion Square yesterday during which proposals to avert the strike were agreed. These will be presented to both the National League's Board of Control and the PFAI Management Committee this evening.

It is believed that the PFAI will be offered their old seat on the transfer tribunal and that the coefficient used to decide a player's valuation in the controversial transfer system will be greatly reduced.

If so, then the players' delegation, which consisted of Fran Gavin, Tom Conway, John Coady and Dave Campbell, may recommend that the strike be averted when meeting with their Management Committee this evening.

Gavin broadly hinted as much afterwards when commenting: "It was a progressive meeting and it was good to see how serious the league was taking the matter."

However, pending approval from the league's Board of Control as well, he added: "Unless there's an agreement in full the strike goes ahead on Friday."

Nevertheless, the league representatives who met with the PFAI delegation yesterday, the National League president, Michael Hyland, Dundalk's chairman, Enda McGuil, and the acting secretary of the FAI, Brendan Menlon, are liable to press for agreement from the Board of Control this evening.

A noticeably upbeat statement from Merrion Square, which described the meeting as "productive", concluded by saying: "Acceptance of the proposals by both parties at these meetings will resolve the issue and the PFAI will then withdraw industrial action."

The Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy will announce the squad for the April 24th friendly away to the Czech Republic at a press conference on Friday in the Burlington Hotel.

A decision regarding a new date for the FAI Harp Lager Cup final is expected to be made at this Friday's executive committee meeting of the FAI/National League.