Report: West Ham to create player partnership with Shamrock Rovers

This could be the highest-profile link-up of its kind in Irish soccer.

West Ham and Shamrock Rovers are reportedly close to announcing a partnership that would see prospects at the Premier League club gain vital experience of first-team football in the League of Ireland. The Daily Mail claims "the deal would allow the Premier League high fliers to loan players out and potentially help speed up work permit applications for new signings". The story doesn't mention anything about players going in the other direction but it's probably safe to presume that West Ham would be given first refusal on any Rovers players making the transition to English football. Irish clubs such as Home Farm and Shelbourne have had relationships with English clubs in the past, but those were affiliations at schoolboy level, rather than involving top-level senior sides.