LOI licensing deadline pushed back as PFAI chief calls for minimum number of academy players in first teams
2 min read
The 2025 licensing deadline for League of Ireland clubs has been pushed back to November 26, PFA Ireland general secretary Stephen McGuinness has confirmed.
PFA Ireland are also proposing to introduce a minimum number of academy players in the league next season, while it’s also been revealed that the proposed new League of Ireland third division is also set to be pushed back past 2026.
In the wake of Dundalk’s recent financial issues, which saw the club on the brink of extinction in September before local man John Temple took over as owner, McGuinness feels the FAI’s financial oversight wasn’t as thorough as it should have been last year when former owner Brian Ainscough took control of the club.
Dundalk were rewarded their licence in November 2023, a month before the Louth club changed hands. Last September, FAI CEO David Courell admitted it was not proper that checks carried out when Ainscough was Kerry FC owner simply transferred over to Dundalk when he bought the Oriel Park club, and committed to closing that loophole in the licensing process.
“The licensing (deadline) this year has been pushed out to November 26 to give it a bit more breathing space for Dundalk and other clubs,” said McGuinness, in an interview with Off The Ball.
“That would make you think that time is needed for some of our clubs from a financial perspective. There is money owed at Dundalk. John Temple and Peter Halpin (Dundalk CEO) are working through that and I have been in contact. John has confirmed to me that the players will be paid before the licensing date so we have to take that in good faith and we do.
With preparations well underway for the 2025 campaign, McGuinness detailed how he feels there aren’t enough opportunities for emerging talent in a first-team environment nowadays, and explained how his union are proposing a minimum number of academy players in each matchday squad going forward. Three is the number they are hoping for.
“As a union, we don’t feel there are enough young players given opportunities in the first team. I understand that… in my opinion the toughest job in the country is being a League of Ireland manager,” he said. “You are probably only four weeks away from the sack. You have got to get results all of the time. That’s the reality.
