Shelbourne Consider Legal Challenge In Dublin City Saga

  • Thu, Aug 17, 2006 @ 10:31

SHELBOURNE will continue their protests after the eircom League's management committee yesterday stood by the decision to expunge Dublin City's points from the record and keep the Premier Division table as it currently stands.

The Tolka Park club had launched an appeal over the initial action which was taken by the league's board of control and it was successful on the basis that they were not the right party to make the call.

However, while the management committee yesterday acknowledged that the 10-man board of control were wrong to take authority on the matter, they considered the issue themselves and chose to adopt the same policy. Therefore, Shelbourne and the other clubs who scored points against the defunct Dublin City do not get them back.

Shels' chief executive Ollie Byrne has indicated that he will not accept the verdict and is expected to take further action and go the legal route in his bid to get six points back for the league leaders.

Their nearest rivals Derry City therefore had two reasons to celebrate yesterday.

Having picked up only three points against Dublin City, the verdict of the management committee means they do not lose ground in the title race. And they also escaped being docked three points for fielding the suspended Seán Hargan in a league clash against Bohemians on July 7.

The Candystripes argued that they had not been notified by the league about the defender's ban and the board of control, after a lengthy meeting, established that the club were innocent because they weren't informed within the requisite 48-hour period after the suspension list was compiled.

However, Shamrock Rovers have lost three points but remain top of the First Division after fielding the banned Paul Shiels against Dundalk. Former Dublin City player Shiels picked up the suspension with the defunct club but Rovers were unaware before introducing him as a substitute in a game which they drew.


Next Fixture

Drogheda United / March 29th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Weavers Park
 
Team Pld Pts
Shelbourne616
Derry City611
Sligo Rovers69
Waterford FC68
Galway United FC67
Bohemian FC57
Shamrock Rovers56
St Patrick's Athletic66
Drogheda United54
Dundalk52