The Eircom League has been forced to defer the business of its a.g.m. for a second time as a result of the ongoing problems associated with the FAI's new club licensing scheme

The meeting was due to take place tomorrow at the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin and although it will be formally started, as is required under the league's rules, the meeting will be promptly adjourned to an unspecified date while clubs continue to wrestle with the consequences of last week's decision to refuse to grant any Premier Division licences.

Under the scheme clubs must obtain an "A" licence in order to be allowed play top flight football next season. But no club was granted such a licence by the FAI's independent committee while two clubs, Shamrock Rovers and Limerick, were not awarded even the "B" licence required to play in the first division.

Representatives of the league and association have met several times since the committee's decisions were originally revealed and it had been widely expected that the entire process would simply be set aside for a year in order to allow the season to proceed.

It is believed, however, that problems with UEFA, who oversee the wider international scheme, remain and so it is still possible that the situation will result in serious disruption to, or a dramatic reorganisation of, the league for the coming year.

Yesterday was the final day by which appeals against the original licensing decision had to be received and it is believed that around half of the 22 clubs have sought reviews of the initial decisions in their cases.

Of particular concern are the two clubs with no licences who could be prevented from taking any part in the senior campaign if they cannot rectify the situation.

Rovers officials said yesterday that they had been assured by the FAI that they would be granted a licence as soon as they could secure an agreement with another club to stage their home games for the coming season. A club source said that such a deal was about to be struck and that an announcement will be made today.

Last night, however, the position remained unclear after it was reported that FAI talks aimed at securing Rovers's return to Richmond Park had collapsed. Members of the Rovers board had earlier been in talks about playing matches at United Park in Drogheda.

Rovers, however, are desperate to keep their games in Dublin and it is possible that another approach will be made to Bohemians today about the club playing at Dalymount for the coming season. A similar proposal was recently rejected by Bohemians's membership and the intervention of the FAI may be required again if a rethink is to be sought.

Dublin City chairman, Ronan Seery, reacted angrily yesterday to what he said were claims that his club had last week failed to help Rovers by agreeing to move their games to Dalymount, thereby allowing Rovers to play out of Tolka Park again.

"Having canvassed the opinions of all parties," said Seery, "it was decided in the best interests of Dublin City that basing ourselves in Tolka Park, which lies in the area that contains our natural fan base, was the correct thing to do.

"We have nothing but respect for the management, players and directors of Shamrock Rovers," he added, "but we make no apologies for staying put in Tolka Park."