Derry City to gain Champions League position

Derry City may well find themselves playing in the Champions League this season. This follows the antics from Drumcondra club Shelbourne FC as they cheated their way to victory last year. 

Shelbourne could fold by this weekend if no deal can be struck with developer Ossie Kilkenny for the sale of Tolka Park.

Kilkenny, who owns an option to purchase the Richmond Road venue, has already advanced the club in the region of ?6m - that figure contributing to an overall debt of at least ?10m.

Shels withdrew from this season's Setanta Sports Cup on Tuesday, have no manager or players and chief executive Ollie Byrne is in hospital recuperating from brain surgery.

The FAI reserves the right to relegate the club to the First Division, pending scrutiny of the club's accounts to November 30th last.

But Shels' very existence is said to be in considerable doubt, with its future resting on the proposed sale of Tolka Park to property developer Kilkenny.

With creditors including businesses, individuals and former players, the club is on the brink of collapse according to an Irish Daily Mirror report on Wednesday morning.