Cork City have made a late bid to steal Derek O'Brien from under the noses of St. Pats. The Leesiders have been given permission to talk to O'Brien after an offer of cash-plus- players was accepted by the tribesmen.
It is believed that City would loan out some of their fringe players to the Premier Division's basement boys.
St Pat's meanwhile have been told that they can talk to the player after they made a straight cash bid, thought to be around €25,000