Thirteen players with League of Ireland premier division club Sporting Fingal have been told that their contracts are to be terminated.
All players currently under contract with the north Dublin club have been affected.
Sporting Fingal was formed in 2007 and enjoyed FAI Ford Cup success in 2009. They were due to play Lisburn Distillery on Monday in the Setanta Sports Cup but have pulled out of the competition.
Their future participation in the Airtricity League which starts in March is now a serious issue, as is the very survival of the club.
A number of League of Ireland clubs have suffered as a result of the financial downturn coupled with the costs of maintaining a professional league.
In recent times, Drogheda have been pushed into examinership, Derry City were thrown out of the league for producing false contracts and Cork City were wound up last year.
As recently as last month, Bohs were taken to court by two players claiming unpaid wages.
UPDATE
THE organising committee of the Setanta Sports Cup have confirmed that Sporting Fingal have withdrawn from the competition and will be replaced by UCD.
UCD will now face Lisburn Distillery in the First Round First Leg fixture that had initially been scheduled to take place between Sporting Fingal and the Irish League club on Monday, February 14.
“It is obviously very disappointing that Sporting Fingal have had to withdraw from the competition,” said Milo Corcoran, Chairman of the Setanta Sport Cup organising committee.
“I would hope that they will be in a position to deal with their current difficulties and will return to the competition at some point.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
