Shelbourne FC chief executive Ollie Byrne passed away early on Sunday morning.

Byrne, who was the club's majority shareholder, had been battling illness for some time.

He died at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross at 4am this morning.

Representatives from both the Football Association of Ireland and the Eircom League expressed their sympathy to the Byrne family and Shelbourne FC.

In a joint statement, FAI President David Blood and Chief Executive John Delaney said:

"Oliver Byrne was a colourful character and a true football man and he will be remembered as somebody who made a unique contribution to the Irish game."

In addition to his involvement with Shels, Byrne had also served on the Board of Control and Management Committee of the Eircom League prior to the merger with the Football Association of Ireland last December.

In a joint statement the chairman of the Eircom League of Ireland, Paddy McCaul, and the director of the Eircom League of Ireland, Fran Gavin, said:

"Oliver Byrne's life-long commitment and dedication to Shelbourne Football Club never wavered and he will be sadly missed by all his friends within the game."

Thursday's meeting of the National League Executive Committee has now been cancelled as a mark of respect to Byrne.