League of Ireland:IN A move bound to boost sales of stable-mate Tayto around Dundalk, Hunky Dorys have significantly stepped up their sponsorship of Drogheda United.

In addition to the brand, which is owned by Largo Foods, being displayed on the club’s shirts for the next two seasons, United Park will officially take the name of the crisps, the second time the ground has been the subject of a naming rights deal.

The value of the company’s backing was not revealed yesterday but, after a difficult close season during which budgets had to be further cut back to secure a licence from the FAI, Drogheda United officials were clearly delighted yesterday to have secured increased backing from such a well-known consumer brand.

Thanking Largo’s founder and CEO, Ray Coyle, long-time United director Vincent Hoey observed: “He mightn’t see himself as a white knight coming to the rescue of Drogheda United but he has certainly played an important part in helping us to get ready to face into the new season. Among other things, this deal means that we will be able to continue our youth policy at the club.”

Coyle, whose company has previously been involved in a number of other high-profile sports sponsorships, most recently the backing of boxer Bernard Dunne, said he was delighted to weigh in behind a club in the company’s locality.

Coyle, Hoey and manager Alan Mathews also expressed the hope that supporters would embrace the ground’s new name and Coyle revealed that if things worked out differently they might have been going to Okey Dokey Park during the coming seasons.

“Yeah, we launched a brand under that name at the same time as Hunky Dorys, back 15 years or so ago,” he said.

Asked what had become of the other variety, Coyle quipped: “Okey Dokey died a death, they died a bloody death.”

Sources close to the Irish Soccer Referees Society, meanwhile, have said there is no immediate threat to games at League of Ireland or any other level as a result of an ongoing dispute with the FAI over proposals by the association to cut match fees and travel expenses paid to referees and their assistants, by as much as 30 per cent.

“Negotiations have not yet broken down,” one of the society’s members said yesterday.

“They are deadlocked but the lines of communication are still open.”