Clubs want format changed

**LukeO** · 25/09/2009, 1:33 AM

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/....html?digest=1

**pineapple stu** · 25/09/2009, 8:58 AM

Less pleasing from the association’s point of view, though, will be the fact that a majority of officials do not believe that the benefits of running an A Championship side justify the costs involved

I think this is an interesting insight into the minds of club officials.

We were one of the few teams to take the A League seriously last year, and ended up winning it. Our team in the final last year was -

Brennan (c); Harding (Purcell 75), Stevens, Boyle, E McMillan; King (Cahillane 69), Ward, Bolger, Nangle (Matthews 63); D McMillan, Reilly. Subs not used - Barron, Kelly

Of those, Stevens, King and Cahillane have left the club, while the others are all regulars this season. As a result, despite losing many of our senior players, we were able to start this season with a side which, even though they had less than 100 UCD appearances as a squad between them, is now top of the table.

I think the fact that most club officials think the A League isn't worth it says more about the club officials - and their short terms outlook - than the A League. It's a shame the article didn't bother to try pick up on this.

**Mr A** · 25/09/2009, 9:34 AM

Agree 100%. While obviously not as successful as UCD, the majority of our squad this year came from last year's reserve string. I think we need more of these sort of games and especially more U20s rather than less.

**BohDiddley** · 25/09/2009, 9:53 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I think the fact that most club officials think the A League isn't worth it says more about the club officials - and their short terms outlook - than the A League.

Sorry PS, I know we've been through this before, but you're preaching again from a position of safety. That kind of wisdom comes easy when you and your overheads are embedded in a university.

In principle, the A League is a good and wholesome thing, but this league, or most of it, is in survival mode.

**Mr A** · 25/09/2009, 9:55 AM

And it'll never get out of survival mode unless clubs start producing players rather than relying on big wages to get them in...

**pineapple stu** · 25/09/2009, 9:56 AM

Thank you.

And also, our overheads are not "embedded in a university" any more than other clubs' overheads are embedded in the local council.

**thischarmingman** · 25/09/2009, 10:06 AM

37 per cent disagreeing with the assertion that club licensing has ensured standards that are “set and adhered to"

Who were the 63%?

**marinobohs** · 25/09/2009, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

Who were the 63%?

can only presume the FAI have a block 63% voting arrangement

**dahamsta** · 25/09/2009, 10:31 AM

When I was asked to add the A League to Foot.ie, I thought people were pulling my leg. Ireland's just too small to be ****ing about with a third division. It was an idiotic idea, and the people that came up with it, and implemented it, should be taken outside and shot.

**blackholesun** · 25/09/2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

And it'll never get out of survival mode unless clubs start producing players rather than relying on big wages to get them in...

Disagree with you a bit.

Even if you produce a top crop of young players, as Cork did a few years ago with Kearney, Danny Murphy etc when you win something as they did then the players expect top buck and agents etc start sniffing around.

Clubs need to increase gates and other incomes in order to be able to pay players a regular decent wage with all the usual boom and bust messing.

bhs

**Mr A** · 25/09/2009, 10:37 AM

Wouldn't agree with that dahamsta. There needs to be some sort of linkage to the rest of football rather than seeing the Senior game totally isolated.

Also, it's difficult for LOI clubs to find an outlet for other than first team players a lot of the time because they can't play in local leagues and be registered for an LOI club.

**BohDiddley** · 25/09/2009, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Wouldn't agree with that dahamsta. There needs to be some sort of linkage to the rest of football rather than seeing the Senior game totally isolated.

Also, it's difficult for LOI clubs to find an outlet for other than first team players a lot of the time because they can't play in local leagues and be registered for an LOI club.

You're absolutely right. It's a great idea. But when some clubs are struggling to field a first team, they're bound to take a short-term view.

**seand** · 25/09/2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

Who were the 63%?

I also spotted this; quite extraordinary. only 37% disagreed 'that club licensing has ensured standards that are “set and adhered to”'.

Truly the mind boggles. Maybe the 63% were in the 'don't know/don't give a toss' category.

**dahamsta** · 25/09/2009, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Wouldn't agree with that dahamsta. There needs to be some sort of linkage to the rest of football rather than seeing the Senior game totally isolated.

So use the First Division for that. Irish football is (and was) in enough trouble as it is, adding another layer is just too impractical and too expensive. We're a ****y little country with 4m people, most of whom that play football want to get across the water as soon as possible. The Irish game should be as simple as it can possibly be. It'll never succeed on a business level if it continues to have ideas above it's station.

(I realise that this won't be a popular point of view from a "beautiful game" point of view, but I lean towards the business and practical side of things. And that's what keeps football alive, like it or not. Ireland needs to move away from fanboy football (at management level) and towards practicality and marketing if it wants to ever look like a professional league.)

**marinobohs** · 25/09/2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by seand

I also spotted this; quite extraordinary. only 37% disagreed 'that club licensing has ensured standards that are “set and adhered to”'.

Truly the mind boggles. Maybe the 63% were in the 'don't know/don't give a toss' category.

maybe 63% thought it was a wind up and are waiting for the punch line...

**pineapple stu** · 25/09/2009, 11:17 AM

The thing is, it doubles up as the reserve division, which always existed anyway. So basically all that's happened is that the reserve division is now open to any clubs who have ambitions to join the league. In addition, the theory is that the reserve league is made stronger by having first-teams in there, so everyone gains.

**culloty82** · 25/09/2009, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Wouldn't agree with that dahamsta. There needs to be some sort of linkage to the rest of football rather than seeing the Senior game totally isolated.

If there are up to six clubs on the brink of going bust, why not bring in a regionalised First Division like was suggested a few months back? You'd have lower travel costs, greater attendances and larger revenue (more Munster and Midlands derbies). With Shelbourne and UCD promoted, here's how it would look next season:

D1N:
Athlone
Castlebar
Finn Harps
Longford
Mervue
Monaghan
Salthill
Tullamore

D1S:
Carlow
Cobh
Kildare
Limerick
Sporting Fingal
Tralee
Waterford
Wexford

Teams play four times, both winners replace bottom two Premier teams. There'd certainly be a bigger buzz if Wexford played Carlow, for instance, rather than Monaghan away.

**number16** · 25/09/2009, 1:45 PM

i agree with your proposed approach, it would serve the game better and the cluster of teams could develop rivalry!

**passerrby** · 25/09/2009, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by culloty82

If there are up to six clubs on the brink of going bust, why not bring in a regionalised First Division like was suggested a few months back? You'd have lower travel costs, greater attendances and larger revenue (more Munster and Midlands derbies). With Shelbourne and UCD promoted, here's how it would look next season:

D1N:
Athlone
Castlebar
Finn Harps
Longford
Mervue
Monaghan
Salthill
Tullamore

D1S:
Carlow
Cobh
Kildare
Limerick
Sporting Fingal
Tralee
Waterford
Wexford

Teams play four times, both winners replace bottom two Premier teams. There'd certainly be a bigger buzz if Wexford played Carlow, for instance, rather than Monaghan away.

oh...my..god