The Irish under-21 international Stephen Ward looks set to sign for the Norwegian Tippeliga team Fredrikstad within days in a deal worth around €250,000 to Bohemians. The Dubliner, who turned 21 yesterday, has also been the subject of interest from the English Championship side Ipswich but is believed to favour a move to Norway and is expected to travel there over the next couple of days to discuss personal terms.

His current club, meanwhile, face the prospect of being docked three points and having to replay Friday's game against Shelbourne after Eircom League officials confirmed yesterday that Jason McGuinness should have missed the 2-1 win through suspension.

Gareth Farrelly is also said to be facing disciplinary action from the league for claiming afterwards that the club had checked with Merrion Square and received confirmation that the centre half was entitled to play. The club's honorary secretary, Gerry Conway, backed the manager's version of events yesterday, insisting he (Conway) had made one of two phone calls to the league's offices and been told the club had no suspensions outstanding.

But league officials yesterday denied any specific inquiry was made regarding the player. They also denied anybody suggested he was available for selection, and they maintained that even if Bohemians had received incorrect information over the phone it would not be a defence as they had been informed of the suspension in writing.

Confusion over the situation appears to have arisen because the automatic suspension McGuinness received for being sent off in the League Cup semi-final against Shelbourne effectively bumped back a ban he was already about to serve for an accumulation of bookings.

Shelbourne officials, who were aware of the situation before Friday's game kicked off, are expected to lodge an official protest over the coming days, and they are entitled to argue that under the rules the match should be replayed.