CHAIRMAN RESIGNS IN DERRY ROW.

Byline: PAUL O'HEHIR

DERRY City chairman Pat McDaid and three of his directors sensationally quit last night after being locked in late night talks.

The club's officials have been under-fire since the weekend after the FAI ripped up Derry's league licence after uncovering evidence of dual player contracts.

McDaid and his fellow board members contested the validity of the FAI's actions and insisted there was no evidence to back up the claims.

Board members Joe W Doherty, Peter Leonard and Francis Houston also resigned their positions from the board last night.

Vice chairman Stephen McCarron is to remain on the board McDaid said he was stepping down to ensure Derry City return to the league of Ireland and felt his relationship with the FAI and its CEO John Delaney had reached the point of "no return".

"It's my view that it would not be in the best interests of the club for me to continue in light of the stance taken by the FAI," added McDaid.

A delegation of nine Derry City players travelled to Dublin last night for late night talks with PFAI chief Stephen McGuinness.

And they issued a statement which read: "The events of the past week have come as a major shock and disappointment to the players.

"Until allegations of "dual contracts" were made very recently, no players was aware of the existence of a second document which contained different figures to the one which we had originally agreed.

"With only one exception, no player knowingly signed a second document.

"It now appears that, what the club has misrepresented to us as a blank registration form containing no figures, terms or conditions, was in fact a second document upon which figures were subsequently entered and lodged with the league.

"As soon as the players became aware of this wrong doing, we have agreed to set the record straight and we wish to have nothing to do with the wrongdoing. We are deeply distressed at this turn of events."

CAPTION(S):

RESIGNATION Derry chairman Pat McDaid, right