The Football Association of Ireland and the National League Executive Committee have agreed to reconvene a working group with immediate effect.

The decision to revive it – this time with FAI involvement - was taken during a conference call on Thursday between the FAI and the NLEC, representing all 19 senior clubs in the SSE Airtricity League.

The meeting agreed to re-establish the working group which initially met last year to formulate plans for the future of League of Ireland football.

The FAI will now be represented in the group for the first time.

The SSE Airtricity League clubs continue to be represented in the working group by delegates from Bray Wanderers, Cork City, Derry City, Drogheda United, Dundalk, Galway United, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.

NLEC Chairperson Noel Byrne said: "Today's meeting was hugely positive and progressive. The clubs are delighted to get the working group up and running again and the addition of FAI representation signifies the Association’s intent to work with the clubs on a brighter future for Irish football. We welcome this outcome."

The FAI was represented at Thursday’s meeting by Interim CEO Gary Owens, Interim Deputy CEO Niall Quinn and Competitions Director Fran Gavin.

The FAI’s Interim Deputy CEO Niall Quinn (pictured above) said: "Today’s meeting with the NLEC was really productive. There is a lot of optimism now about where the SSE Airtricity League can go and the Association will give this working group our full support.

"I talk a lot about the art of the possible and so much is possible now for our game as the the group puts together a roadmap for the future that we can present to all 19 League clubs with confidence and excitement.

"All the stakeholders are committed to driving this agenda forward.

"The clubs have given the group a mandate to investigate all possibilities for our game.

"We look forward to working with the clubs and engaging with UEFA, FIFA, Government, players and sponsors to offer the best future possible for our League and our players.

"These are challenging times for Ireland and for Irish sport with the current Covid-19 lockdown but we will do everything we can to ensure our League is ready to prosper when football returns."