Stuart Gilhooly, solicitor for the Professional Football Assocation of Ireland, has warned League of Ireland clubs they face serious consequences if the 2020 season is not played this year.
The League of Ireland is the only top flight in Europe without a plan in place to return this summer.
The Football Association of Ireland are searching for solutions in terms of funding that will allow the 19 clubs to get back to football and, more importantly, paying players in full.
Plans are in place for training to resume for some teams later in the month, but talks to agree a return date and a financial package are stalling.
The National League Executive Committee, which represents clubs, spoke with the FAI yesterday on a conference call. They are awaiting further progress.
Several Premier Division sides remain unhappy with the financial support proposed by the Association and are seeking further funds to try to alleviate those concerns.
However, the players' union are reiterating the consequences of the temporary lay-offs introduced by clubs, someone of whom enacted them as early as mid-March.
The majority of League of Ireland players are out of contract in October or 1 December, but if the season is not played, Gilhooly has again warned that the wages due must be paid.
To date, over €100,000 is owed to players from lay-offs throughout the league, and rising each week.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Today with Sarah McInerney, he said: "We have to be very clear. Clubs around Europe are returning.
"It’s important we understand that the FAI are going to pick up all the costs around this. They’re going to pay all the costs around testing and matches.
"The clubs have no further costs other than their wages. They are going to have those wages costs either way. It is in their best interests to get this season started as soon as possible."
"The clubs have no further costs other than their wages. They are going to have those wages costs either way. It is in their best interests to get this season started as soon as possible."
"That way they can get income, probably from UEFA, probably from streaming from what the FAI have put together."
Clubs find themselves in a quandary.
With no ticket sales because matches will be behind closed doors, reduced sponsorship and opportunities of fundraising, their incomes have plummeted or disappeared.
They fear that without an acceptable package from the FAI, they will be unable to pay wages in a matter of weeks and the situation will be even more dire.
Had the FAI’s not needed government assistance and UEFA support last year to prevent them going bust, an acceptable financial scheme would have been relatively easy to find.
With many potential sources already assisting in the last 12 months, it makes their task much more tricky.
The PFAI and clubs have praised the FAI’s endeavour and dedication to finding an answer.
For Gilhooly, he thinks a return must happen soon, no matter what they come up with.
He concluded: "It is in everyone’s interest that football returns. There is chance that if it doesn’t we could lose an entire year of a player’s career here, we could get to a situation where people forget about the League of Ireland.
"The problem is we are the most reliant league in Europe on ticket sales, but what the FAI are hoping is they can get some money from UEFA, that they can new additional streaming revenue.
"There will be income and either way they are going to have the cost of player’s wages.
"Instead of having nothing, they will have something. It makes sense to return and the sooner we return the better for everyone and the game of football in Ireland.
"We will also be the only team sport in Ireland that will be returning. There will be a huge interest in the League of Ireland."
It remains to be seen if that is the case, but the inability to find a few million euro in a sport that has been awash with finances for decades, sum up the impact of its management in Ireland until the regime change of recent months.
The players and clubs continue to suffer for it.
