Rovers' wages row escalates

The players, acting through the PFAI (Professional Footballers of Ireland), have issued a statement threatening an escalation of their industrial action, which began with their withdrawal from caretaker manager Noel Synnott's training session.

The statement confirms that the players are "prepared to escalate their strike action if the club do not honour their financial commitments."

Rovers are second-from-bottom in the eircom Premier Division currently and are without a league win since August 2nd's 2-0 home defeat of Longford Town.
They entertain Derry City at Richmond Park on Friday (kick-off 7.00pm), and though the players will line out, a reassessment of their stance will be taken afterwards.

Synnott, a former Irish international defender who took over from Liam Buckley early last month, went on record as saying he was "disgusted" with Rovers' performance in last Friday's 1-0 loss to Cork City at Turner's Cross.

Attempts to build their own stadium in Tallaght has put added pressure on the Hoops' coffers.