The much anticipated appointment of four independent directors to the FAI board is set to be completed early next week.
Sports Minister Shane Ross told 40 League of Ireland delegates yesterday that he understands the positions are close to being filled.
It would be a hugely significant development as those appointments are key to Government ensuring the debt-ridden FAI is not liquidated.
League of Ireland club officials and players met Ross for 90 minutes yesterday at the department’s offices.
And the Minister said the Government is determined not to allow the troubled association go under.
All League of Ireland clubs and a number of women’s teams were represented at the meeting which was described as “positive”.
Ireland international and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne was among the group of players to meet Ross.
Dundalk duo Brian Gartland and Gary Rogers, Shelbourne’s Luke Byrne and Paul Keegan of Bray Wanderers were also in attendance.
So too were Robbie Benson of St Pat’s, Peamount and Ireland legend Aine O’Gorman and Bohs’ Keith Ward, who replaced team-mate Keith Buckley.
PFA Ireland chief Stephen McGuinness also attended along with his staff members Ollie Cahill and solicitor Stuart Gilhooly.
Junior Minister for Sport Brendan Griffin addressed the meeting via video link and was tackled by Hoops ace Byrne.
Griffin spoke about the League of Ireland being a strong breeding ground for young players on their way to England.
But Byrne interjected to say it was much more than that and it was now responsible for creating senior Irish internationals, like him.
Ross was asked to quiz UEFA - when he meets them on January 14 - about what money the European governing body provided to the FAI for the League, and how it was spent.
McGuinness said: “It was positive that we were all in the room together as that hasn’t happened without the FAI in a long, long time.
“What was clear is that to bring the game on, we must learn how to lobby government better than we have done.
“The GAA and rugby have always been good at it, but those in football haven’t. But the door is open and we can never close it.”
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