St Patrick's Athletic have this morning announced they have temporarily laid off their playing and coaching staff in order to ensure the survival of the club.

A statement from the Saints said they had taken the course of action after 'extensive deliberation' and it indicated that doubts around the proposed resumption of play in June had ultimately influenced the final call.

Premier Division counterparts Sligo Rovers and Cork City laid off their squads at the start of the Covid-19 crisis but the Leesiders subsequently switched back to avail of the government's wage subsidy scheme.

The fact that the Saints - who are reliant on the support of owner Garrett Kelleher - have pressed this button highlights the uncertainty around the future of the league in 2020 and the latest government statement barring gatherings in excess of 5,000 until the end of August has caused alarm in football circles even though almost all LOI games have smaller attendances.

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That is because it seems inevitable that special permission would be required to play games in front of crowds and that would test the suitability of facilities to adhere with social distancing guidelines.

In the St Pat's statement, it is made clear that they do not expect normal levels of income until autumn at the earliest.

"The Board has carefully considered statements made over recent days by Government Ministers and public health officials which make it clear that sporting events involving large crowds, and therefore League of Ireland football as we know it, are most unlikely to re commence until Autumn at the earliest," read the Saints statement.

"We completely understand and accept the rationale for these statements, given the devastating effects of the Coronavirus and the absence to date of methods to prevent its transmission other than through social distancing. We accept that the preservation of the lives and health of our community must take precedence over other concerns.

"It is nearly seven weeks since our last game. We have had virtually no income since then and this will remain the case until it is again possible to play in front of large crowds. The Board had been working on the assumption that this could happen in June, as planned by the FAI and the National League Executive Committee.

"Thanks to the agreement of our players and staff who agreed adjustments to their contracts, we have up to now maintained everyone in employment.

"However, it is impossible for us to continue to do this when it is now uncertain that football, and our budgeted income stream, will resume at any time this year. It would be imprudent for us to attempt to do so and would jeopardise the survival of our club.

"We cannot take that chance.

"Like all supporters, we hope the bleak outlook currently facing sport will improve sooner rather than later, and we look forward to the resumption of training and playing as soon as it is feasible to do so.

"When there is greater clarity on this, and on the arrangements for completing the current season, we will be in a position to address our commitments to all our stakeholders."

Online Editors