NATIONAL LEAGUE: Some doubts remained last night regarding Shelbourne's participation in this weekend's third round of the Carlsberg FAI Cup as the club continued to consider its reaction to Monday's decision to return to St Patrick's Athletic the nine points earlier deducted as a result of the "Paul Marney" affair.
Reports from Tolka Park over the past 48 hours suggest that the club has considered a wide range of dramatic options in reaction to the news, ranging from applying to join rival leagues to simply withdrawing from this Saturday evening's cup tie in Ballybofey.
But a final decision on what course of action is taken is unlikely to be made before today when it is hoped a meeting of the board can be convened.
Club representatives are believed to be exploring the option of an appeal to one of the game's international governing bodies, but it is believed that such a course of action could take too long for it to affect the outcome of this season's title race.
Officials at both Tolka Park and Merrion Square declined to comment last night, but it is believed that the club may make a statement regarding its intentions at some point today.
