Delegates unanimously voted for all 12 rule changes necessary to complete the merger and the FAI will take over the running of the Eircom League at the end of the 2006 season.

Welcoming the historic decision, FAI chief executive John Delaney said: "This is a momentous day for Irish football because it brings the senior game under the direct control of the FAI. Over the past few weeks members of the board and the executive have travelled around the country briefing all our stakeholders on why this merger needed to happen and we received full backing from all strands of the game.

"We can now direct the resources of the FAI towards the senior game and we look forward to the challenge ahead."

The chairman of the Eircom League, Paddy McCaul said: "This is a great day for the Eircom League and we look forward to reaping the benefits that this merger will bring."

The meeting also unanimously approved 17 other changes to the association's rules to ensure they continue to conform to Fifa statutes as well as dealing with disciplinary, appeals and arbitration processes.