Dundalk will be competing in the Europa League qualifiers this year after the FAI stepped in to help bump manager Ian Foster onto a Uefa Pro Licence course.

The Lilywhites had been hoping to take up the vacant European spot that would have been taken up by Cork City or Derry City if they were still in the Premier Division, but complications arose over the coaching badges that Foster had.

Foster just recently completed his Uefa A Licence, although he has now been informed that his name has been added to a Pro Licence course and should be okay to guide his team in Europe.

"We are very appreciative of the efforts of the FAI, and have no doubt that their recommendations and support for Ian's Pro Licence application played a major part in securing this coveted place on the English FA course," said Dundalk CEO Gerry Matthews.