16 team premier article in the star!?

**blackholesun** · 30/04/2009, 2:19 PM

Anyone else see the article in the star today about the league expanding back to a 16 team premier?

Personally Id favour an expanded league, if we are to grow the game in Ireland its pointless having teams struggling in the first division for years.

The ten team league was driving by greed by the likes of Ollie, Bohs, Cork and Derry who wanted more big games to cover the inflated wage bills.

bhs

**eamo1** · 30/04/2009, 2:35 PM

Is it that time of the week already?The now seemingly weekly debate about a 10,16,20,276 team premier league.

**Longfordian** · 30/04/2009, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by eamo1

Is it that time of the week already?The now seemingly weekly debate about a 10,16,20,276 team premier league.

Thumbs up from me, we might get in to that one.

**eamo1** · 30/04/2009, 2:43 PM

Ya,there might be some slight fixture congestion with a 276 team premier league but sure we'd manage

.

**randomcomment** · 30/04/2009, 2:46 PM

the powers that be would have trouble organising a 2 team league, never mind a 16 team league

**thischarmingman** · 30/04/2009, 3:04 PM

**Umberside** · 30/04/2009, 3:11 PM

They said when they launched it it was for better quality matches. I haven't seen any raise in the quality of the matches so far.

There's no point in getting rid of the set-up after one season, it needs time to work.

**randomcomment** · 30/04/2009, 3:28 PM

16 teams X 2 rounds =

**gufc2000** · 30/04/2009, 3:31 PM

Anyone able to post a link to where I could get the article online?

**dublinred** · 30/04/2009, 3:50 PM

Don't think 16 teams would be enough as only 30 games compared to 36 this year so missing income for 3 home games and would expect players would want the same money , 18 teams wouldn't be a bad option with relegation to the A League . I think the likes of Limerick and Athlone would benift from getting increased away crowds and better coverage in the press and after a couple of season the standard should improve across the board . The current first division is a joke in terms of coverage, and its easy to get bogged down there.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 30/04/2009, 3:59 PM

we don't have enough clubs to support a 16 team in the loi. in all fairness to the top 6 in the first they are of no standard to be playing premier division football.
why should the fai make it easier for clubs down there now to go up for clubs beforehand had to sell their souls

**stann** · 30/04/2009, 4:10 PM

You advocating a 9 team Premier Division then Jinxy?

Given that a team that were one kick of a ball away from being in the Premier instead of ye are suddenly 'of no standard to be playing Premier Division football' like?

**Dyl10** · 30/04/2009, 4:19 PM

It would be better for football and the league as a whole.
The two major outlying problems for me are:

A) What happens with relegation?

B) How big a gap will there be between top and bottom?

The league would be more attractive for younger players torn between joining a first division club or playing for an intermediate club. Attendances for first division clubs in the new premier division would be up(In most cases) and the prospect of a bit more variation in the fixture sheet would certainly be more attractive to me.

**GalwayRed** · 30/04/2009, 4:33 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

we don't have enough clubs to support a 16 team in the loi. in all fairness to the top 6 in the first they are of no standard to be playing premier division football.
why should the fai make it easier for clubs down there now to go up for clubs beforehand had to sell their souls

You honestly dont think the likes of ourselves, fingal, waterford and ucd could not be competitive in the premier? Id have to disagree with you there. Especially after Dundalk sent a strong side to Tolka just recently for the league cup and got hammered.
Anyway back on topic, I would be against a 16 team league. I dont think changing around the numbers every couple of years is going to solve all the finacial difficulties and lack of support for the league. Its best to stick with the structure set out for now and give it a chance. The league needs some stability and thats not going to happen if theres 6 teams thrown into a new premier division. Itll just encourage lesser teams to overspend having gotten their break- they will want to take their chance and stay up up at all costs- and could lead to more financial difficulties.

**gufc2000** · 30/04/2009, 4:39 PM

What 16 teams would you include?

Mine would be:
Bohemians, Cork, Derry, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo, Bray, St Pats, Galway, Drogheda, Dundalk, Waterford, Limerick, Shelbourne, Athlone, Finn Harps, Longford,

Then you could have Fingal, Monaghan, Kildare, UCD, Wexford, Mervue and the rest of the A teams in another league

**SligoBrewer** · 30/04/2009, 5:03 PM

Can we merge this with every other 16 team thread?

**Dodge** · 30/04/2009, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by SligoBrewer

Can we merge this with every other 16 team thread?

System isn't big enough to hold a 7,631 page thread.

I'd guess...

**MariborKev** · 30/04/2009, 5:08 PM

Originally Posted by blackholesun

The ten team league was driving by greed by the likes of Ollie, Bohs, Cork and Derry who wanted more big games to cover the inflated wage bills.

bhs

Source?

I'd like you to find a Derry source on it, otherwise withdraw it.

**thedoyler** · 30/04/2009, 6:24 PM

Have not read the article yet but whats the problem with doing the 2 rounds and then splitting into a top and bottom for last round a la northern irish league? I think it would be better as the geographical spread is awful. No team in the middle of the country. 1 in Munster. Crazy stuff, will lose fans from those counties if premier football isnt available.

**Dodge** · 30/04/2009, 7:35 PM

Originally Posted by thedoyler

Have not read the article yet but whats the problem with doing the 2 rounds and then splitting into a top and bottom for last round a la northern irish league?.

You mean a la the League of Ireland16/17 years ago

it was crap then, and it'd be crap now