Pat's case to go to Arbitration

looks more then likely now that Pats will get 6 of the 9 points they were deducted back

story from JW's Site

Saint Patrick's Athletic will tell the FAI today that they will not be going to the courts to win back the nine points they were deducted arising from the Paul Marney fiasco.

The Saints, as expected, will inform Merrion Square that they are in favour of an independent arbitrator making a decision. The one-month deadline to appeal the FAI's nine-point deduction runs out today.

"The club will choose the arbitration route. The club could have sued the League for compensation on a number of grounds, such as loss of earnings if the decision prevented St Pat's from playing in the Champions' League," a Richmond Park source told Neil O'Riordan of the Irish Sun.

"But on reflection they decided that it would be better if this was kept within football and outside the courts. The eircom League's image has taken a bit of a hammering in recent times and it wouldn't do anybody any good by having this issue dragged through the courts."

It is now probable that the Saints will be given six of their nine points back. A three-point deduction would suggest that the League should have noticed that Marney was not registered after the first round of games and that they should then have informed St Pat's of his status.