SOCCER/National League: Newly-elected Eircom League chairman Brendan Dillon yesterday called on the country's leading clubs to work closer together to capitalise on the "huge opportunity" for progress for the senior game here.

Speaking in Athlone after he had been elected unopposed to the position he has held on a temporary basis for the past month, following the decision by Paddy Goodwin not to stand, Dillon said the combination of summer soccer, the new licensing system and "the limited opportunities for players now in England" presented clubs here with the chance to make considerable advances.

"A lot needs to be done if we are to make the most of that opportunity," he said, "but I really sense a willingness on the part of the clubs to do what is needed and I feel this can be the start of very good times for the league."

Dillon intends to oversee a three- to five-year development plan for the league. "We need to identify specific goals and work out how we can best achieve them. There has to be a clear marketing strategy and there is a range of other issues we need to look at. The honeymoon is over for me now and I'm looking forward to getting on with the work that needs to be done."

Retired chairman Michael Hyland and former league administrator Donal Crowther were given honorary membership of the league at yesterday's meeting and it was agreed club representatives will meet again on Monday fortnight to ratify the league's new rulebook.

At the FAI council meeting that followed the settlement of the dispute over allegations in relation to the £100,000 bonus paid to Mick McCarthy last summer was discussed and the association released a statement following on John G O'Donnell's work on the issue in recent weeks. In it the organisation basically maintains everybody, Liam Gaskin and McCarthy, on one hand, and FAI treasurer John Delaney on the other, behaved impeccably.