3 down ! Your opinion

**SeanDrog** · 13/06/2017, 7:02 AM

Ok so is the opinion of people now the season is well underway - should three teams go down every year? (Not just this readjustment year).

I have to say it does seem to make teams fight harder (no walkovers this year), only 3 points between bottom four and no clear relegation candidates yet - it's keeping interest in a league that Cork destroyed with their unconquerable dominance (shame on you Cork 😜 ).

When I first heard three going down I thought it would be a disaster but I'm not so sure now. Although I might change my mind if we are one of the three 😀.

**ArFella** · 13/06/2017, 7:39 AM

I think 3 down is too many with the amount of teams in the first div, as you'd have to have 3 up, which would mean some crap teams coming up with probably at least 1 good team going down. I think 2 down with a playoff for 3rd bottom vs 3rd in the 1st division would be the best format for two 10 team leagues.

**ToberonaTornado** · 13/06/2017, 8:04 AM

Errmmmm!!

http://foot.ie/threads/222920-Relegation-Battle

**ArFella** · 13/06/2017, 8:09 AM

Originally Posted by ToberonaTornado

Errmmmm!!

http://foot.ie/threads/222920-Relegation-Battle

That thread is a discussion of the relegation battle this season, whereas this is a discussion of the relegation format for this and future seasons, no?

**sidewayspasser** · 13/06/2017, 8:36 AM

Three down is already tough in the current 12-team division. If you want to keep that for next year, it would mean 3 out of 10 would go down, which I think is too many. Fast forward a few years, and at least half of the division would consist of teams bouncing up and down between the divisions every one or two years. I can't see how this would help the league to progress.

**nigel-harps1954** · 13/06/2017, 8:46 AM

Format is complete pants.

Teams are spending more than they should be to avoid relegation. Might be alright over the course of one season, but going forward it's not sustainable every year.

Relegating 3 of 10 teams would just beyond insane.

**patrickccfc** · 13/06/2017, 9:37 AM

So that would mean:
1-4 Europe
5&6 Irn Bru Cup
7th Isolated
8-10 Relegated

**redobit** · 13/06/2017, 9:42 AM

Relegation on steroids, no thanks.
3 is bad enough with 12 teams. With 10 teams it would be daft. The LOI goes in swings and roundabouts. Sometime teams need to consolidate or build and this just puts teams under pressure financially.

**osarusan** · 13/06/2017, 9:56 AM

3 down from 10 is madness.

3 down from 12 is still a huge percentage.

3 up from the First is equal madness.

**Real ale Madrid** · 13/06/2017, 11:50 AM

You could argue that 3 down isn't enough given the quality of the league this year.

**Mr A** · 13/06/2017, 12:13 PM

Indeed. Like every league, every year, this is the worst in living memory.

**sbgawa** · 13/06/2017, 12:49 PM

1 down automatically
8th and 9th in premier versus 2nd and 3rd in first devision winning team of the four stays up (or go's up)

**Straightstory** · 13/06/2017, 4:17 PM

How about ten go down, with no promotion or relegation after this season? Most agree that Cork and Dundalk are streets ahead of everybody else, so those two playing each other thirty times a season would be a tasty prospect.

**Mr A** · 13/06/2017, 5:13 PM

Not for Dundalk it wouldn't

**CuanaD** · 13/06/2017, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

1 down automatically
8th and 9th in premier versus 2nd and 3rd in first division winning team of the four stays up (or go's up)

8th against 3rd and 9th against 2nd, two-legged playoffs - so they all get the extra home gate.
Also, try to get an extra Irn-Bru place, then everyone except 10th gets some extra games (if the cup-winner comes from the Premier) - giving incentive to play for EVERY place

**legendz** · 13/06/2017, 7:42 PM

In a 10 team Premier Division played over 4 series, the bottom team should be relegated. The First Division winners automatically promoted.

The promotion/relegation playoff options I'm in favour of are: 9th Premier Division vs 4th First Division and 2nd First Division vs 3rd First Division or else an option similar to the most recent format of 9th Premier Division vs winner of 2nd First Division vs 3rd First Division.

**ger121** · 13/06/2017, 8:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Indeed. Like every league, every year, this is the worst in living memory.

Sure you say that every year.

**Longfordian** · 14/06/2017, 5:54 PM

The LOI always being simultaneously the worst and the greatest league in the world is one of the only certainties in life along with death and taxes.

**Johnnie C** · 16/06/2017, 1:18 PM

I thought the 12 + 8 structure was fine, don't agree with 3 going down this season, think it will end up just pushing more teams into oblivion in the bottom half of the First Division next season.

**legendz** · 23/06/2017, 7:06 PM

The mooted promotion/relegation playoff system seems reasonable:
3rd v 4th;
winner v 2nd;
winner v 9th Premier Division.

The GAA are trialing group stages in their championships for a number of years. I'm in favour of the LoI trialling a Europa League playoff. Not everyone is favour of playoffs. All I can say is I'd make the effort to go the Markets Field if Limerick were in such a play-off.

In something similar to the mooted promotion playoff, 3 teams could enter the LoI-EL playoffs. The highest placed of the 3 receiving a bye to the final: 3rd v winner of 4th v 5th. If the cup winner has finished in the top 5, the 6th placed team can take the third LoI-EL playoff spot.

Playoffs have been reasonably successful in giving more teams something to play for and getting good media coverage. The Championship playoffs across the water really keep that league action packed up to the final day. Like the GAA, there's no harm trialling it out. If it's not successful, simply revert back.