It costs between £200,000 and £550,000 a season to run a Premier Division club.

A First Division club will spend up to £150,000.

A new sponsor for the league, to take over from Harp Lager next season, is expected to be announced before Christmas.

Sponsoring the league costs about £200,000 in total, about a third of which goes to the league itself, and the rest on support spending.

Harp Lager will continue to be associated with the FAI Cup.

The league will shortly advertise for its first marketing and development officer.

Clubs say they get about 30 to 35 per cent of their revenue through gate receipts.

Shirt sponsorship and in-ground advertising are also major sources of income.

Local sponsors, programme and shirt sales, season ticket sales, fund-raising events, directors' subventions and, in the case of a handful of clubs, bar receipts, also help to keep clubs afloat.

Premier Division clubs spend up to 60 per cent of their revenue on staff (mainly players') wages.