The FAI and the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland today announced a number of initiatives designed to improve the welfare of professional Irish players.
These include a standard player contract from next year in the eircom League and a trust fund to help players pursue personal development outside the game.
The standard player contract will commence in 2007 and will be phased in as each eircom League player completes a new agreement with a club.
The contract will ensure that all agreements between clubs and their players will be properly documented and transparent and it clearly outlines the responsibilities on both parties.
The objective of the Trust Fund is to support eircom League players in a structured way enabling players to pursue skill development outside football in the form of scholarships and grants.
The Fund will also ensure that all domestic and international professional players will be supported in times of need.
The PFAI also confirmed that they will be moving their offices to the new House of Football at Campus Stadium Ireland.
Welcoming the announcement, PFAI Chief Executive Fran Gavin said: 'We have lobbied for a long time for the introduction of a standard player contract and this is one of the first tangible benefits of the merger between the FAI and the eircom League.
'The Education and Support Trust Fund is an extension of the International Retired Players Fund and will now cater for players within the eircom League as well as retired players from both the domestic and international scene,' he added.
