Bohemians have been forced to change the design of their controversial 2019 away kit which was due to feature the image of Bob Marley.

Marley played at Bohs’ Dalymount Park shortly before his death, an event commemorated by a mural at the ground.

The club’s new kit was due to feature his likeness along with green yellow, and red stripes to represent Rastafarianism, Marley’s religion.

However, in a statement Bohemians explained that the late singer’s representative agency contacted them to inform the club that they had no right to use his image.

"Bohemian Football Club acted in good faith and followed the correct process when purchasing the licence for this image via a world-leading third-party photo licensing company," they said.

"However, the Bob Marley representative agency has informed us that this company did not have the right to grant any such licence for this image. We are dealing with this separately.

"Subsequently, following direct correspondence with the Bob Marley representative agency, they cannot license the image to the Bohemian Football Club due to their own contractual and other obligations.

"Consequently, we can no longer supply the jersey with the image of Bob Marley as advertised."

Bohs are offering anyone who has registered to buy at 2019 away jersey a refund, a credit note or the new redesigned jersey, which now features a clenched fist where Marley’s face had been.

Lads are we doing this right? pic.twitter.com/c9AeB79AQl — St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) October 23, 2018

The statement continued: "We greatly regret that we cannot offer the original jersey as designed but believe that the new design, while maintaining the colour scheme for a nod to Dalymount’s musical history, also brings with it a powerful message."

They say that the clenched, raised fist is ‘a symbol of solidarity and support used to express unity, strength and resistance'.

"The League of Ireland faces the might of the EPL every day, Bohemian FC – like other 100% fan-owned clubs – faces the challenges of the privatisation and commercialisation of football across the globe," said the statement.

The redesigned 2019 away kit

"We have decided to give 10% of our profits from this jersey to a fund, which will continue the already fan-led and previously fan-funded initiative of bringing people living in Direct Provision to games at Dalymount Park. These are among the most unrepresented people on our island. "

The original Bob Marley-design jersey sparked controversy at the time, with critics arguing that Marley’s links to the club were tenuous at best.

It gained worldwide coverage and sparked several online spoofs, with other clubs mocking up various jerseys featuring local musical acts.