Soccer:The FAI this evening noted their "surprise" at Cork City chairman Tom Coughlan who obtained leave to judicially review the FAI's Disciplinary Committee conduct after it banned him for 12 months from all "football related matters" at a hearing in Abbotstown last week.

After a series of delays Coughlan wasn’t even present at the hearing to learn his fate but later said he intended to appeal the outcome. It now appears comments made by FAI boss John Delaney is one of the primary reasons Coughlan will pursue avenues all the way to the High Court.

Reacting to the news from Cork, the FAI tonight issued their response. “The Football Association of Ireland this evening (December 21st) confirmed its surprise at the Cork City FC statement that Mr Tom Coughlan was granted leave to apply for judicial review, given that Mr Coughlan has to date failed to exhaust all internal appeal procedures open to him,” the statement read.

“The FAI is not on notice of any court application and if any order was made, it would been given on an ex parte basis, meaning that it would have been granted on Mr Coughlan’s word only.”

Coughlan on the other hand felt he had no alternative. “It is unfortunate that we have had to pursue this course of action,” he said. “However given the prejudicial nature of the CEO’s comments and the subsequent actions of the Disciplinary Committee, we were left with no option. We hope that this issue can be brought to speedy and successful conclusion so that we can concentrate on playing football next season.”

It is understood the FAI would prefer Coughlan to relinquish his control of the financially constrained club in the hope new investors can come in and bring some stability to the premier Division side. Coughlan is said to have invested some €800,000 during his time in charge.