Fifteen, of sixteen IPL clubs eligible, applied and, in line with the current club licensing manual, were assessed in five key areas namely: Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administration, Legal and Financial.

Based on these entirely objective criteria licences were granted / refused to the following clubs:

GRANTED:
Ballymena United FC
Cliftonville FC (Windsor Park, Belfast)
Dungannon Swifts FC (Windsor Park, Belfast)
Glentoran FC
Linfield FC
Lisburn Distillery FC

REFUSED:
Armagh City FC
Coleraine FC
Crusaders FC
Donegal Celtic FC
Glenavon FC
Limavady United FC
Loughgall FC
Newry City FC
Portadown FC

Communication of these decisions has already been made to the clubs.

The Committee wish to congratulate those clubs who have been granted a licence for this season and recognise that others will be disappointed at being refused a licence, however the Committee would urge such clubs to work towards attaining a club license in future seasons and acknowledge the efforts they have already made.

Clubs who have been refused a club license have the right of appeal, as per the club licensing manual, and any such appeals shall be heard on Wednesday 9 May 2007.

The Committee will shortly distribute the new UEFA and Domestic licensing manuals which will be a prerequisite for clubs wishing to compete in UEFA and the top division of Irish League football competitions.

The Committee wish to re-emphasise that clubs must be in possession of a club license to participate in UEFA competition.

The Committee are mindful of the possibility that several clubs could be utilising Windsor Park to stage their UEFA matches and the Licensing Administration have already had discussion with the UEFA administration in this regard as this is not a new phenomenon within UEFA. The clubs in question have been advised of these discussions.