text: League of Ireland legend Conan Byrne blown away as he raises €13,000 for Irish Cancer Society with marathon football walk
  Coronavirus: Ireland internationals coming together to donate to emergency League of Ireland fund amid football shutdown
  Speaking ahead of yesterday's meeting between the National League Executive Committee (NLEC) meeting the FAI, Mathews felt there are a couple of ways that the league can go when it resumes.
  "We can definitely forget about it in April, May," he said. "Given what the Taoiseach said in his speech the other night, returning would be very much an aspiration in June or July.
  "A lot of hypothetical situations have been bandied about. One that seems realistic is an August or September return with one series of games scrapped.
  "They key thing will be getting football back, even if that means in the early stages playing behind closed doors.
  "There has been a lot of collaboration and support among the clubs to get through this ordeal. Some are in worse situations than others, but it's going to impact each and every one.
  "So there's been a positive coming together and the FAI have been pretty strong and supportive of the league in terms of their resolve to get it back running and to back it financially.
  "The FAI's decision to pay out prize money and not take affiliation fees (€17,000 for Premier Division clubs, €8,000 for First Division) is a very good gesture and welcomed by all the clubs. It's appreciated"
  "The LNEC will look at a number of options, including the doomsday situation involving cancellation. But I think it will return, even if it's on a staggered basis initially."