Shelbourne manager Damien Richardson has dismissed speculation that his position at the club may be under threat as a result of comments he made in a newspaper article last week indicating his support for Wimbledon's speculated move to Dublin.

The club issued a statement during Friday's game with Derry distancing itself from the manager's viewpoint and announcing that a board meeting would be held this evening to consider what action to take. Richardson, however, feels that there is little concern on his part as he had made it clear that he was simply expressing a personal opinion.

"It happens that I believe that the game would benefit here at all levels from access to a European League and I think that the Wimbledon move looks to be the most likely way of us getting access to that, but that is just my opinion and what this all comes down to is discussion," said Richardson yesterday.

"The board are meeting to discuss the matter and I respect their right to do that but I have made it clear all along that I was expressing my opinion so I don't think there's any question of my position coming into it."

Club Secretary Ollie Byrne declined to comment on the situation remarking simply that the board would meet and that a statement would be issued either this evening or tomorrow morning.

FIFA, meanwhile, have awarded the Irish fans the Fair Play Award for 1997. The decision was made by the FIFA Committee for Security and Fair Play and is in recognition of the sporting behaviour exhibited by the Irish at all of the team's games although the behaviour at the recent World Cup play-off match in Brussels received particular praise.