A TEAM from Wexford backed by construction millionaire Mick Wallace is the strong favourite to fill the void left by the demise of Dublin City in next year's Eircom League.
The FAI recently opened up applications for a 22nd club to join the senior game at First Division level next year as the new era under the stewardship of the association begins.
And the Irish Independent understands that Wallace's Wexford experiment is expected to be successful in their application once they can meet with Club Licensing requirements. Officially, the FAI says there will be no confirmation on a new club until January and there has been more than one application for the vacancy.
However, it is believed that a team from Wexford would fulfil the criteria perfectly given that it would extend the regional spread of a league that is often castigated for being too Dublin centric.
Wallace is well known in Eircom League circles due to his close relationship with former St Patrick's Athletic and Cork City boss Pat Dolan.
And he is also credited with being a huge influence in the career of Reading striker Kevin Doyle after recognising his talent as a teenager with the Wexford Youths and recommending him to Dolan.
Wallace has always spoken of a desire to establish an Eircom League team in Wexford, a county which consistently produces strong youth sides demonstrating the potential that exists in the vicinity.
Wallace is developing a state of the art facility for soccer on a 14 acre site just outside Wexford town, which he hopes will eventually fulfill the requirements to secure a First Division licence.
The FAI confirmed yesterday that of the 21 current clubs, 15 have attained a licence at Premier Division standard and five at First Division standard.
It emerged late last week that Limerick haven't received any licence and they now have five days to appeal.
Next Monday, the FAI Board will, after taking the recommendations of an Independent Assessment Group, announce the twelve teams that will make up the new top flight.
In addition to the eleven current Premier Division teams, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Galway United and Cobh Ramblers would all qualify under licensing for a place in the new league if selected by the FAI.
While Rovers should be a certainty to make it and Cobh have little chance, both Dundalk and Galway will realistically be thinking they might replace Bray and Waterford if they are to make the elite league.
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