Discussions are planned within the next two months between the PGA Irish Region and the country's leading players over the future of the Smurfit Irish Professional Championship. This stems from the absence of Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Eamonn Darcy, among others, from last weekend's staging at Castlerock.

By the time they meet the players it is likely the PGA will have settled on next year's venue.

Representatives from Co Sligo Golf Club met them last weekend but a written application has also been received from the European Club .

"Naturally, our sponsor wants the best field possible, so it is time for us to have a fresh look at the entire situation," said Irish Region secretary Michael McCumiskey.

"The idea is obviously to settle on a date which will suit as many players as possible."

McCumiskey is determined there will be no return to the difficulties of the 1980s, when the future of Europe's oldest national professional championship was in jeopardy.

Effectively, things were turned around by a switch to a May date against the Italian Open and then the arrival of Smurfits as sponsors in 1990.

These moves resulted in victories for all of the country's leading players, with the exception of Christy O'Connor Jnr.

In the process, the event went back to a Northern Ireland venue, Belvoir Park, for the first time since Hugh Jackson won at Massereene in 1970.

It then reverted to a regular October slot in 1997, running against the World Matchplay at Wentworth. But the heightened international profile of Clarke and Harrington, led to a damaging clash when they began to earn invitations to the British event.

McCumiskey added: "We have already had talks with our sponsor and the next move is to try to achieve the best possible consensus with the players. In this way, we hope to secure the future of the championship."