THE Eircom League is no more. After months of speculation, the communications giant yesterday confirmed that they have pulled the plug on their primary sponsorship of the domestic league.

Now, after the end of a nine year association, the League of Ireland is looking for a new main sponsor after a turbulent year off the park, with a litany of financial problems leaving the viability of the professional game here in doubt.

Eircom will remain principal backers of the national team until 2010, but their commitment to the league will be reduced in a new role as 'communications partner.'

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney was unable to confirm if a title sponsor will be found to replace them.

Given the current economic climate, there are concerns that finding a main backer will be difficult, with group sponsorship like that adapted by the Champions League and the GAA a proposition being considered.

"I don't wish to speculate as to whether there will be a title sponsor or not," said Delaney. "I have a very clear mind where we're at.

"In the past, we allocated €400,000 of the Eircom sponsorship towards the league. They will now be communications sponsor for €200,000 and we have Boylesports [betting partners] who are giving a commitment of €75,000.

"We do have a good number of sponsorships to announce in relation to the League over the next couple of months. Together with the ones that we are going to announce, we will exceed that €400,000 very, very easily."

Delaney denied that there is no interest in the business community towards supporting the league and insisted that, even if there is no title sponsor in place, there will be no reduction on the overall prize fund for 2009 League of Ireland despite the Eircom setback.

"It is important that we put more into the prize fund. We made that commitment and it is something that we will honour," he said.

"There is a strong appetite out there to sponsor the league in different categories -- there is no doubt about that.

"It is ultimately good for the clubs as it will mean more money for them, as it will be significant in terms of cash for leverage, branding and awareness.

Cathal Magee, managing director of Eircom Retail, said that their decision to end their sponsorship of the League should not be viewed as a "migration away from interest in the domestic game."

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Shelbourne / April 26th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Tolka Park
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Team	Pld	Pts
Shelbourne	12	22
Shamrock Rovers	11	19
Derry City	12	19
Bohemian FC	11	19
Galway United FC	11	15
St Patrick's Athletic	12	15
Sligo Rovers	11	14
Waterford FC	11	13
Drogheda United	10	8
Dundalk	11	5