St Patrick’s Athletic CEO Richard Sadlier has stepped down from his position with immediate effect. He told RTÉ that he has taken the club as far as he can and decided it was time to call it a day. An offficial club statement said: ‘The club would like to wish Richard the very best for the future and to thank him for his hard work over the last eighteen months in what has been a difficult and testing time.

‘Richard has made a huge contribution to the club and we’re very disappointed to lose him as CEO. The club has just come through a difficult period thanks in no small way to his efforts.

‘His contribution to the game on and off the field will be a big loss to St Pat’s and the League.

‘Richard has indicated that he is willing to assist the Club in whatever way he can and it is our desire that he maintains a connection with the club in some way as he will always be very welcome at Richmond Park.’

Sadlier said: ‘This decision was not an easy one. While the role has been very challenging, I have to say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as CEO.

‘I would particularly like to thank the President and the board, the staff and volunteers, the players and management team, and of course the supporters.

‘This is a very special club and I wish everyone associated with St. Pat’s every success in the seasons ahead.’

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney has alleged that Derry City Football Club has withheld details of payments to players over a period of years. Financial statements shown to RTÉ indicate that over 20 Derry City players held dual contracts.

The figures allege that over €337,000 in payments to players may not have been disclosed in accounts submitted to the FAI.

And Delaney has stated that, in the circumstances, the club would not be awarded its prize money for finishing fourth in the league.

He also called for a clear-out of the current Derry City board and announced that players had until next Thursday to give full financial information about their pay to the FAI or the Player’s Union.

Should they fail to do this, Delaney says that they will not be registered to play with any club here or abroad next season.

When contacted for comment tonight Derry City FC Chairman Pat McDaid said: ‘No such allegation has ever been put to Derry City Football Club at any stage including Saturday’s hearing. We await to hear the full details of any allegation before commenting further.’

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney has alleged that Derry City Football Club has withheld details of payments to players over a period of years.

Financial statements shown to RTÉ indicate that over 20 Derry City players held dual contracts.

The figures allege that over €337,000 in payments to players may not have been disclosed in accounts submitted to the FAI.

And Delaney has stated that, in the circumstances, the club would not be awarded its prize money for finishing fourth in the league.

He also called for a clear-out of the current Derry City board and announced that players had until next Thursday to give full financial information about their pay to the FAI or the Player’s Union.

Should they fail to do this, Delaney says that they will not be registered to play with any club here or abroad next season.

When contacted for comment tonight Derry City FC Chairman Pat McDaid said: ‘No such allegation has ever been put to Derry City Football Club at any stage including Saturday’s hearing. We await to hear the full details of any allegation before commenting further.’

 Darren Quigley, one of the players at the centre of the dispute over contracts between Derry City and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), has denied he is a ‘whistleblower’. Quigley, who is currently on loan with Sporting Fingal, told RTÉ News he went to the FAI after failing to be paid by Derry City. However, the goalkeeper says he had no knowledge that any players were on dual contracts at that time.

He said: ‘I find it very hard being branded a whistleblower because there are 20 other players up there who I haven’t spoken to. They could assume I am after opening a can of worms purposely.’

He added: ‘I wish to state that this is not the case whatsoever.’

Outlining the sequence of events, Quigley said he contacted the FAI about money owed to him by Derry City. It then emerged that there were differences between Quigley’s contract and the FAI’s records.

Quigley said as far as he knew, players were not aware of the ‘dual contract’ system and that to his knowledge he only ever had one agreement with Derry City.

Derry have been expelled from the League of Ireland following revelations from the FAI about irregularities in player contracts.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney told RTÉ News yesterday that Derry City had withheld information about payments to players from the organisation over a period of years.

The Derry City players met this morning and a delegation have travelled to Dublin this evening to meet FAI officials.

Earlier today, Delaney told Morning Ireland that players who did not come forward and tell the FAI what they knew about the ‘two-contract’ system would be prevented by the FAI from playing football in any jurisdiction. He said that players had until 12 o’clock on Thursday to come forward.

Delaney also invited those involved in running Derry City to ‘come clean’ about what had happened.

Darren Quigley, one of the players at the centre of the dispute over contracts between Derry City and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), has denied he is a ‘whistleblower’.

Quigley, who is currently on loan with Sporting Fingal, told RTÉ News he went to the FAI after failing to be paid by Derry City. However, the goalkeeper says he had no knowledge that any players were on dual contracts at that time.

He said: ‘I find it very hard being branded a whistleblower because there are 20 other players up there who I haven’t spoken to. They could assume I am after opening a can of worms purposely.’

He added: ‘I wish to state that this is not the case whatsoever.’

Outlining the sequence of events, Quigley said he contacted the FAI about money owed to him by Derry City. It then emerged that there were differences between Quigley’s contract and the FAI’s records.

Quigley said as far as he knew, players were not aware of the ‘dual contract’ system and that to his knowledge he only ever had one agreement with Derry City.

Derry have been expelled from the League of Ireland following revelations from the FAI about irregularities in player contracts.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney told RTÉ News yesterday that Derry City had withheld information about payments to players from the organisation over a period of years.

The Derry City players met this morning and a delegation have travelled to Dublin this evening to meet FAI officials.

Earlier today, Delaney told Morning Ireland that players who did not come forward and tell the FAI what they knew about the ‘two-contract’ system would be prevented by the FAI from playing football in any jurisdiction. He said that players had until 12 o’clock on Thursday to come forward.

Delaney also invited those involved in running Derry City to ‘come clean’ about what had happened.

Liam Miller and Shane Long have been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face France in the World Cup qualifying play-off at Croke Park on Saturday. Reading’s Long didn’t travel to Dublin for training while Miller has returned to Hibernian, with both players suffering from calf injuries.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni is not planning to call up any replacements.

Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy went over on an ankle this morning but is expected to be available for selection.

Liam Miller and Shane Long have been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face France in the World Cup qualifying play-off at Croke Park on Saturday.

Watch live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (RoI) from 7pm.

Reading’s Long didn’t travel to Dublin for training while Miller has returned to Hibernian, with both players suffering from calf injuries.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni is not planning to call up any replacements.

Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy went over on an ankle this morning but is expected to be available for selection.

 Superbly executed goals from Eamon Zayed and Shaun Williams saw Sporting Fingal’s quality come to the fore as Shelbourne face a third season in the First Division. FAI Cup finalists Sporting now host Bray Wanderers at Morton Stadium on Friday night before the return leg of the play-off final at Carlisle Grounds on Monday.

Shelbourne were the hungrier, more up for it side from the start, taking the game to Sporting with David McAllister heading Michael Synnott’s cross straight at keeper Darren Quigley after just three minutes.

Sporting had both Brian Gannon and their captain Stephen Paisley booked early on as they struggled to contain Shelbourne’s direct approach.

Richie Baker was narrowly off target from a free-kick on 17 minutes before Sporting gradually came into it, twice almost punishing Shelbourne with their pace on the counterattack.

Conan Byrne had his fierce shot bravely blocked by Shelbourne captain Damien Brennan before Zayed broke following a mistake by Synnott.

Byrne got possession on the right to cross for Lorcan Fitzgerald who cut in to shoot wide off the outside of Dean Delaney’s right-hand post.

Having found their range, Sporting blew Shels away with two superb goals shortly before half-time; the opener, on 39 minutes, an absolute gem.

Byrne showed good feet before putting Gary O’Neill away on the right. O’Neill turned Alan Keely inside out to cut in and cross for Zayed to volley sublimely to the net.

It got worse for Shelbourne within two minutes when Williams punished further poor defending to advance unchallenged and drill a left-foot strike into Delaney’s bottom left corner from 20 yards.

It should have been 3-0 ten minutes into the second half when Shelbourne were all too easily carved open again.

Shaun Maher waltzed forward to link with Zayed who put O’Neill in. Only the finish was lacking as the shot was wide across goal.

Shelbourne had to respond and they laid siege to the Sporting goal and were rewarded by a somewhat dubious penalty award on 72 minutes when David Cassidy went down under a challenge from Stephen Paisley that looked outside the box.

McAllister shot the penalty under the body of Quigley who initially looked to have stopped it.

Anthony Flood was then farcically sent off for pushing Quigley over in trying to retrieve the ball, his second booking in five minutes.

Shelbourne: Delaney; Synnott, Brennan, Keely (Quigley, 56 mins), Hedderman; Baker, Cassidy (C O’Brien, 85 mins), M O’Brien (Hynes, 56 mins), McAllister, Doyle; Flood.

Sporting Fingal: Quigley; Gannon, Maher, Paisley, Fitzgerald; James, McFaul, Williams; C Byrne, O’Neill (Corcoran, 90+3 mins), Zayed.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).

Superbly executed goals from Eamon Zayed and Shaun Williams saw Sporting Fingal’s quality come to the fore as Shelbourne face a third season in the First Division.

FAI Cup finalists Sporting now host Bray Wanderers at Morton Stadium on Friday night before the return leg of the play-off final at Carlisle Grounds on Monday.

Shelbourne were the hungrier, more up for it side from the start, taking the game to Sporting with David McAllister heading Michael Synnott’s cross straight at keeper Darren Quigley after just three minutes.

Sporting had both Brian Gannon and their captain Stephen Paisley booked early on as they struggled to contain Shelbourne’s direct approach.

Richie Baker was narrowly off target from a free-kick on 17 minutes before Sporting gradually came into it, twice almost punishing Shelbourne with their pace on the counterattack.

Conan Byrne had his fierce shot bravely blocked by Shelbourne captain Damien Brennan before Zayed broke following a mistake by Synnott.

Byrne got possession on the right to cross for Lorcan Fitzgerald who cut in to shoot wide off the outside of Dean Delaney’s right-hand post.

Having found their range, Sporting blew Shels away with two superb goals shortly before half-time; the opener, on 39 minutes, an absolute gem.

Byrne showed good feet before putting Gary O’Neill away on the right. O’Neill turned Alan Keely inside out to cut in and cross for Zayed to volley sublimely to the net.

It got worse for Shelbourne within two minutes when Williams punished further poor defending to advance unchallenged and drill a left-foot strike into Delaney’s bottom left corner from 20 yards.

It should have been 3-0 ten minutes into the second half when Shelbourne were all too easily carved open again.

Shaun Maher waltzed forward to link with Zayed who put O’Neill in. Only the finish was lacking as the shot was wide across goal.

Shelbourne had to respond and they laid siege to the Sporting goal and were rewarded by a somewhat dubious penalty award on 72 minutes when David Cassidy went down under a challenge from Stephen Paisley that looked outside the box.

McAllister shot the penalty under the body of Quigley who initially looked to have stopped it.

Anthony Flood was then farcically sent off for pushing Quigley over in trying to retrieve the ball, his second booking in five minutes.

Shelbourne: Delaney; Synnott, Brennan, Keely (Quigley, 56 mins), Hedderman; Baker, Cassidy (C O’Brien, 85 mins), M O’Brien (Hynes, 56 mins), McAllister, Doyle; Flood.

Sporting Fingal: Quigley; Gannon, Maher, Paisley, Fitzgerald; James, McFaul, Williams; C Byrne, O’Neill (Corcoran, 90+3 mins), Zayed.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).

German police have confirmed that Hannover and Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke has died.The 32-year-old is reported to have died close to his home close to Hannover near a railway level crossing.According to police reports, Enke was struck by a train close to his home in Neustadt-Eilvese and died at the scene.

Enke was omitted from the Germany squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Chile, on Saturday, and the Ivory Coast next Wednesday despite having recovered from a virus which had kept him out of action for almost two months.

His national team colleagues learned the tragic news after training in Bonn today.

‘We are all shocked,’ said Germany’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff.

‘We are lost for words.’

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany ‘are deeply distressed and in mourning’.

‘All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family,’ he added on the DFB’s website.

Enke’s daughter Lara died in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was just two. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter the coupled had adopted.

German police have confirmed that Hannover and Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke has died.

The 32-year-old is reported to have died close to his home close to Hannover near a railway level crossing.

According to police reports, Enke was struck by a train close to his home in Neustadt-Eilvese and died at the scene.

Enke was omitted from the Germany squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Chile, on Saturday, and the Ivory Coast next Wednesday despite having recovered from a virus which had kept him out of action for almost two months.

His national team colleagues learned the tragic news after training in Bonn today.

‘We are all shocked,’ said Germany’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff.

‘We are lost for words.’

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany ‘are deeply distressed and in mourning’.

‘All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family,’ he added on the DFB’s website.

Enke’s daughter Lara died in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was just two. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter the coupled had adopted.

 Monaghan United secured fifth place in the First Division with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a jaded Wexford Youths at Kingspan Century Park. United midfielder Stephen McCrossan grabbed a rare goal in the 27th minute when Wexford keeper Packie Holden fumbled his shot from the edge of the box.

Karl Bermingham slid in to convert Barry Clancy’s flick-on after 36 minutes as the Mons took control.

Wexford had most of the second half possession but made little impact and United wrapped things up in the 75th minute as Paul Whelan forced the ball home from close range at the second attempt.

Monaghan United secured fifth place in the First Division with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a jaded Wexford Youths at Kingspan Century Park.

United midfielder Stephen McCrossan grabbed a rare goal in the 27th minute when Wexford keeper Packie Holden fumbled his shot from the edge of the box.

Karl Bermingham slid in to convert Barry Clancy’s flick-on after 36 minutes as the Mons took control.

Wexford had most of the second half possession but made little impact and United wrapped things up in the 75th minute as Paul Whelan forced the ball home from close range at the second attempt.