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Plans to restructure the running of the League of Ireland in time for next season appear dead in the water.

Talks between the FAI and clubs to install a new hybrid model to take charge of the domestic game stalled in recent weeks.

No progress was made on the matter this week and - with the crisis-hit FAI in fire-fighting mode of late - clubs are in the dark as to what is happening.

The Premier Clubs Alliance (PCA) have called a meeting next Tuesday to discuss their next steps.

“There’s a lot of confusion,” said one PCA source yesterday. “2020 looks extremely ambitious, even if the FAI didn’t have these other things to contend with.

“2020 isn’t far away and with nothing in place, it would be too much change in a short period. Ideally you’d want an extended period of time for a handover.”

(Image: Brian McEvoy)

Prior to the storm engulfing ex-FAI CEO John Delaney, there was a standoff between the association and clubs over funding aspects of the proposed merger.

Both parties are also awaiting a clear sense of what the Niall Quinn-led consortium might bring to the table.

Last month, Quinn said he was close to putting “meat on the bones” of a proposal document which he would present to the FAI.

That has yet to happen and as of yesterday, the FAI had no clear idea of when the Ireland legend will reveal his hand.

The PCA is also intrigued to see what plans interim FAI chief executive Rea Walshe - and in due course Delaney’s full-time successor - have for the League of Ireland.

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