Damien Duff: Fans need to behave amid funding urgency in the LOI

Shelbourne manager Damien Duff believes much-needed investment into the League of Ireland could be curtailed if fan behaviour continues to make the wrong headlines.

Last Friday, SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division leaders Shels saw their 2-2 draw at Drogheda United temporarily paused after a linesman was struck by an object thrown from their own section of away supporters.

The club and 100-time former Republic of Ireland cap Duff emphatically condemned the actions of the individual who caused the incident at Weavers Park.

That disturbance followed a recent flashpoint at Richmond Park when a Bohemians player was struck by a flare thrown from the stand where his own side's supporters were congregated during a fixture at St Patrick's Athletic.

Bohs fans were subsequently banned from attending a fixture at Drogheda United following a ruling by the Independent Disciplinary Committee of the FAI.

Those incidents have come at a time when infrastructural issues have reared their heads in the league.

First Division leaders Cork City will have to search for alternative home arrangements in the short-term after the Munster Football Association announced the closure of Turner's Cross for the foreseeable future over 'extensive damage' to the surface, while Finn Harps had to move a home match against UCD last Friday to an earlier kick-off time due to a floodlight issue, underlining the Donegal outfit's view that a move to a new stadium is "vital for the survival of the club".

Speaking ahead of this Friday's fixture against Bohemians which will be shown live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, Shelbourne boss Duff said the situations at Cork and Finn Harps had thrown the facilities issues into sharp relief and that stories of bad behaviour by fans