The Danske Bank Premiership's Covid testing programme has been extended thanks to a "generous contribution" from Linfield and Coleraine.
Weekly testing for top flight clubs and officials was introduced last month for an initial four-week period.
It has now been confirmed that the programme will continue for a further four weeks.
The NI Football League said the second phase was made possible following financial support from Linfield and Coleraine "as the clubs that represented the league in UEFA Club Competitions this season."
NI Football League Chairman Gerard Lawlor said: "The health and wellbeing of players, coaches and officials remains paramount to the NI Football League and the continuation of testing alongside strict compliance to Covid-19 protocols gives everyone involved a level of reassurance.
“On behalf of the NI Football League, I would like to express sincere gratitude to Linfield and Coleraine for supporting this next phase of testing following their successful exploits in European competitions."
Phase two of the testing programme begins the week commencing Monday, February 15 with all participating players, coaches and match officials being tested as before.
The initial testing programme saw clubs receive 160 test kits over the course of four weeks. It is understood the cost for all 12 clubs was just over £15,000.
That initial cost was jointly funded by the NI Football League and the Irish FA.
