League of Ireland is on track for an August 1 return after significant progress in the restart efforts tonight.
The pot put forward by the FAI to assist clubs has increased from €1.7m to €3.3m, although clubs were not given a breakdown of where additional funds will come from.
But as Mirror Sport revealed last week, neutral venues have been scrapped and the cost of that plan has been redistributed for starters.
The cost of live streaming has also been reduced and that in turn has boosted the pot with Premier clubs receiving approximately €191k and €67k for First Division sides.
Pricy Covid-19 testing is also set to be scrapped as other sporting codes will return this summer without it.
Government support has not been ruled out either while a second tranche of FIFA’s Covid-19 aid is also due.
One club source said: “There is optimism, but realism too. It’s dawning on people that we’re in a worse position without a league.
“Everyone’s asking where the extra money has come from but whether it’s the same money rejigged, a sugar daddy, FIFA, the Government, clubs don’t give a s**t once it's there.”
Another source said: “There’s still a way to go and people shouldn't be jumping up and down just yet.”
During yesterday’s meeting, a number of clubs raised the issue of freezing relegation for one season only and it was discussed at length.
They are concerned about putting so much on the line with just 13 games to play in a reduced 18-match campaign.
And at least one Premier Division club is against the early restart on the August bank holiday weekend.
Gary Owens and Niall Quinn of the FAI gave them no guarantees that relegation would be scrapped but refused to rule it out and the matter is back on the agenda next week.
The prospect of scrapping this season’s FAI Cup to free up space in the calendar and more money was also discussed.
Doing so could result in the loss of European places and it was deemed an issue that UEFA may have to rule on.
The FAI is in favour of closing the season with the FAI Cup final at Aviva Stadium in early or mid-November.
There are further meetings planned tomorrow with the FAI and PFAI slated for talks, while the association will also meet with the clubs’ steering committee.
But a more significant meeting between the FAI and the clubs is on the table early next week.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein wrote to Sports Minister Shane Ross yesterday to say a €2 million kick-start solidarity grant from the state was required for the League of Ireland.
Ruairi Ó Murchú TD said: “It’s important that this money is paid directly to the clubs and not absorbed into the black hole of the FAI's finances. Time is of the essence.”
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