Interesting idea, but it will never happen. The last thing the bigger clubs want is to have to play the D1 clubs and since there's damn all in it for the Dublin clubs it's a total non runner.
Heard this was mooted within the FAI over the winter, but rejected out of hand for this season. Sounded completely off the wall to me at first but it does have certain things to recommend it. Basically the idea was that the two leagues would merge into five regional groups (along the lines of the old League Cup ones) for a few weeks in mid-summer (for example, a group might include Derry, Finn Harps, Monaghan, Drogheda and Dundalk.) These would be seeded to ensure they were relatively balanced.
These mini-leagues would take place at the height of summer, when crowds tail off but promotional possibilities are at their highest ebb. They would be subject to a concentrated marketing blitz, giving most clubs local derbies to promote and smaller First Division sides their biggest gates of the season (away teams would also retain a percentage of the gate.)
Points would be carried forward to the respective divisions or a set number of points available for winning the group, finishing second etc. It's a pretty far-out idea, but at least there's some kind of imagination to it. I think it was just crazy enough to work.
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Interesting idea, but it will never happen. The last thing the bigger clubs want is to have to play the D1 clubs and since there's damn all in it for the Dublin clubs it's a total non runner.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Silly, silly idea. The whole point of a league is that everyone plays the same opposition the same number of times (a concept raped by the 3-series league system incidentally)
As for regionalising it, the top 3 in the First are all Dublin teams!
Absolutely ****e idea.
Should have posted that daft idea 1st April, crazy lunacy
Folks, if you could change the league structure or format what would your priorities be?
Why are people who "need no introduction" always introduced?
Officially bonkers....
the idea isnt necessarily a bad one, but for it to effect the league is ridiculous
no harm in providing derbies in addition to the league like - finn harps/derry brought huge crowds last year, and dunlak/drogs wasnt bad this year
even our first trip to cobh was a sell out
I'm with Flawless on the all-island league thing. The Summer interdivision thing is a pants idea though, makes no difference to Dublin clubs, and no real cluster of clubs in the one area bar Dublin and the North West IMO
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"Homer Simpson, smiling politely."
This idea will never happen....
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