Future of the A Championship

[Sam_Heggy]

Have ye been informed of this or is it just speculation?

Not speculation.

[legendz]

The A Championship has been in existence for 3 seasons. It'll take a lot longer for it to get established. I think it will be helped by a 16 team Premier, guaranteeing at least 8 A clubs in each of the two groups.
A move to end this Championship will be a regressive step. Clubs holding a Premier licence should be able to field an A side.
With the A Championship in place, U20 is a high age group for a Youth league. U18 or U19 is about the right age group, with players then making their progress with A sides and then onto their first teams.

[legendz]

It has to be noted that 3 clubs outside the Premier are fielding A sides and seem to appreciate the importance of it. First division Finn Harps, Limerick and Shelbourne all have A sides.
If the Premier is expanded to 16 and based on this year, Cobh and Carlow are invited to Division One, the A Championship can continue as:

Group 1
Bohemians A
Sporting Fingal A
Dundalk A
Sligo Rovers A
Finn Harps A
Shelbourne A
Castlebar Celtic
Drogheda Utd A
Derry City A
Monaghan Utd A

Group 2
UCD A
St. Pat's A
Shamrock Rovers A
Limerick A
Tralee Dynamos
Tullamore Town
Bray Wanderers A
Galway Utd A
Waterford Utd A
Cork City FORAS A

Just as a 16 team Premier will have more of a nationwide spread of clubs across the four provinces, it'd have the same affect on the A Championship in it's two groups.

[Sam_Heggy]

12 team Premier and 2 regional 1st divisions are proposed from 2012 onwards.

We've been told there will be no A Championship next season.
It will also be an Under 19 League, not Under 20 nor Under 18.

[legendz]

12 team Premier and 2 regional 1st divisions are proposed from 2012 onwards.

We've been told there will be no A Championship next season.
It will also be an Under 19 League, not Under 20 nor Under 18.

Is the league going to be a closed league?

[legendz]

A regressive step for the league is a return to being a closed league. The A Championship was created to make a path for clubs to join the league.
It appears culloty's suggestion in the initial post of this thread was bang on on what was possible to happen:


3. The Premier teams withdraw due to cost burdens, and the five senior teams are absorbed into an enlarged First Division. This would be the worst-case scenario, as it would show real danger for the League as a whole, and in all likelihood the new clubs would get cut adrift at the foot of the table.

For Tralee and the other A Championship clubs, I think it'll be a great move for them to be part of a regionalised First Division as opposed to the A Championship. It also might help to promote the game better in these areas. I can't see how the proposal is a move forward for other clubs though.
This regionalised First Division that appears is going to be created, there should be some pathway for potential new clubs. Being a closed league is the only thing I'd have against it. If I was one of the 10 clubs being put into a regional division though, I would not be for it.

[culloty82]

The one question that has to be asked is how the A clubs would be expected to prepare in 2011. As it stands, according to Sam, the lack of league action would see them back in the junior leagues for the coming season, after which they would then have to be instantly competitive against Cork and Waterford in the south or Finn Harps and possibly Drogheda in the north. Still, I'd agree the greater certainty and inclusion of clubs would be a step forward, and with eight teams in each section, it still allows for expansion from any interested teams.

[theboy]

12 team Premier and 2 regional 1st divisions are proposed from 2012 onwards.

We've been told there will be no A Championship next season.
It will also be an Under 19 League, not Under 20 nor Under 18.

So with no A-Championship next year will the likes of Tulamore, Castlebar and Tralee go into one of the 2 regional 1st divisions? and the same for new clubs that would have been looking to join the A-league.

Can you post up the proposed premier and 2 regional 1st divisions for next year?

[legendz]

I think the A Championship should remain regardless, even if it's 6 reserve clubs in each group. A good question is raised about what do the 5 A Championship clubs do next season?

[legendz]

Whatever comes out of this announcement on Friday, I hope the A Championship remains. Three Division One clubs opt to play in it at present. At the very least it could be optional for all clubs and not part of being a Premier club, even if just 6 or 7 clubs were willing to play in the league and intermediate/junior clubs could be invited while playing within their respective leagues, the Championship should remain. Only this season they introduced the A Championship Cup to give more games at this level. Go go entirely the opposite way and end the Championship will be a bad regressive step.

[theboy]

Whatever comes out of this announcement on Friday, I hope the A Championship remains. Three Division One clubs opt to play in it at present. At the very least it could be optional for all clubs and not part of being a Premier club, even if just 6 or 7 clubs were willing to play in the league and intermediate/junior clubs could be invited while playing within their respective leagues, the Championship should remain. Only this season they introduced the A Championship Cup to give more games at this level. Go go entirely the opposite way and end the Championship will be a bad regressive step.

Where did you see anything with regards to an announcement?

[legendz]

Where did you see anything with regards to an announcement?

Fair point in your question, I can only speculate. There's been word some clubs want an end to the A Championship and the current 5 clubs and Fanad Utd will join a regionalised First Division. I'm just expressing my hope and wish that the A Championship remains.

[theboy]

Fair point in your question, I can only speculate. There's been word some clubs want an end to the A Championship and the current 5 clubs and Fanad Utd will join a regionalised First Division. I'm just expressing my hope and wish that the A Championship remains.

I agree with you, i also dont want to see the A Championship finished. think it would be a backward step.

From what i can make of the posts on this thread is that there will be 3 regional divisions, how are these 3 divisions made up?? or am i way off track? if there is a division restructing what will they look like???

[legendz]

From people who claim to be in the know on here, taking with a pinch of salt, and other stuff posted on here it seems the League format will be:
Premier of 12, split into 2 groups after 22 games, 10 additional games played then in each group.
First Division will consists of 2 regional leagues of 8 in each.
The A Championship will end.

[colinf]

does anybody know if the A championship does end, will it end immediately or play out next season and change when the first division is likely to change in 2012?

[theboy]

Think its time for someone to get proper information on this issue and lets end the speculation.

Has any club on here got writen information that things will change next season?

Has any club on here got written information that things are the same for next season? maybe just in a different league format....


Are the clubs already in the A-Championship ment to start thinkin about next year and get plans in place players/training etc or start the process of gettin club/players back into there Junior leagues?

[legendz]

It's a question a few of us have been asking. I can only imagine they'll have to go ahead with next years championship.

[legendz]

Think its time for someone to get proper information on this issue and lets end the speculation.

Has any club on here got writen information that things will change next season?

Has any club on here got written information that things are the same for next season? maybe just in a different league format....


Are the clubs already in the A-Championship ment to start thinkin about next year and get plans in place players/training etc or start the process of gettin club/players back into there Junior leagues?

The 10th of December, tomorrow, isn't this the day that we are to get the answers?
Whatever format they go for, if the league returns to being a closed league, it'll be a regressive step. One of the league's main problems before has been that it has been a closed league. The A Championship at least has opened the pathway for potential new clubs to join.

[theboy]

The 10th of December, tomorrow, isn't this the day that we are to get the answers?
Whatever format they go for, if the league returns to being a closed league, it'll be a regressive step. One of the league's main problems before has been that it has been a closed league. The A Championship at least has opened the pathway for potential new clubs to join.

Previous post:legendz
Originally Posted by theboy
Where did you see anything with regards to an announcement?
Fair point in your question, "I can only speculate"


If you can only speculate about an anouncement, where are you getting that tomorrow the 10th is the date where all our questions will be answered??

[colinf]

im involved with Sligo Rovers A team and i know we're already planning for this coming season. training due to start in january. if the A league does not continue, is there any reserve league at all for premier division clubs or is it just going to be u20/u19? would like to know whats going on

[legendz]

Previous post:legendz
Originally Posted by theboy
Where did you see anything with regards to an announcement?
Fair point in your question, "I can only speculate"


If you can only speculate about an anouncement, where are you getting that tomorrow the 10th is the date where all our questions will be answered??

I read it in this article:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/top-flight-expansion-set-to-be-capped-at-12-teams-2434748.html

[legendz]

im involved with Sligo Rovers A team and i know we're already planning for this coming season. training due to start in january. if the A league does not continue, is there any reserve league at all for premier division clubs or is it just going to be u20/u19? would like to know whats going on

We all need to know what's going on. I know some clubs want the Championship ended but I think it will remain in some form. Three Division One clubs seems to appreciate the need for an A side, if half the Premier does as well, it should continue. Whether other clubs are involved or not will be a different story.

[culloty82]

I read it in this article:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/top-flight-expansion-set-to-be-capped-at-12-teams-2434748.html

The First Division plans haven't been set in stone yet, going by the article, and indeed, most seem opposed, so this could run for a while yet.

[legendz]

I can see why it's opposed, established clubs in Division One will not want to be part of a regional set-up. It goes entirely against what they are about, unless they happened to suffer relegation.

[theboy]

From what i can make from that article is maybe next season 2011 will be at is and any changes brought in for the 2012 season.

Existing and new clubs who would have been in the A-Championship will be bumped up into the new 1st division regional set up to make up the numbers.

That would be a big step for the A-Championship sides to be in with exsting LOI sides on a weekly basis instead of playing there reserve team. but would prob improve the overall standed quickly of the A-Championship sides and maybe make the move for Junior sides more attractive...

[legendz]

The regionalised First Division, if it happens, will be a great move for the 5 A Championship clubs and any new clubs. It's very harsh on the established Division One clubs being bumped into a regional set-up.
It could however as you suggest improve the standard of A Championship clubs quickly and any new clubs as well. I think the league needs about 32 strong healthy clubs. At the moment with 22 national and 5 regional, there's very little room for manoeuvre with the format.

[theboy]

Any announcement made???

[legendz]

I haven't heard anything. Someone was claiming with the weather meetings that were to be held over the last few weeks were delayed. Everyone seems to be in the dark about what is going on and when the meeting will be held.
According to the Indo in that article, there was to be a board of management meeting today. There's nothing anywhere to suggest it is taking place.

[gufc2000]

Is the 'A' Championship remaining on in its current format this year? If so, are Fanad United entering?

[culloty82]

With no official reports of what happened on the 15th, everything's still up in the air, but if both divisions contained 12 teams, you would expect that the A Championship will continue. Likewise with Fanad, you'd expect the Harps lads to have the local knowledge, so Fanad are probably stepping up if the format continues.

[legendz]

It's hard to know. Two clubs will be promoted. I would expect the A Championship will continue. Some clubs wanted out of having to field an A side though. I'm not sure if the FAI will grant their request.

[theboy]

Got this from the LOI thread....

There's a report by Philip Quinn in today's Irish Daily Mail saying that the 22 League of Ireland clubs met in Athlone on Monday night last regarding the structure of the LOI. The outcome of the meeting was that the clubs voted on a majority of 12-9 (one club must not have attended or didn't vote) to change the following:

- Summer Soccer gone to be replaced by a Winter Season from August 2012
- Premier Division to increase from 10 to 16 teams from end of 2011 season
- Setanta Cup to be run-off during the month of July specifically to help the teams that qualify for Europe

There would be no relegation at the end of 2011, and the top six clubs in the First Division will be promoted to the new 16 team Premier. The bottom six in the First Division will link up with 'A' league clubs and form a new second tier division. Suggestions that the 'A' league would then be scrapped or revamped as the second tier division.

No metion on what clubs will do from the end of next season (Nov 2011) until August 2012. I don't think you could go with a mini-league from February to May as the League Champions won't get European football as the Nov 2011 League Champions will be playing in the 2012/13 European competitions.

Also, the tightness of the vote suggested that there is a big split as to what this is what ALL the clubs really want. However, the findings from Monday's meeting of the clubs in Athlone is going to be presented to John Delaney and the League of Ireland Executive Committee at their meeting in Dublin tomorrow (Thursday). If they ratify it, the new 16 team Premier League will kick-off in August 2012.

As I said apologies if this has been posted elsewhere and I missed it.

[Schumi]

That meeting was ages ago wasn't it?

[theboy]

Ya about 2months back, just wanted to posted it up here so some could see.
Has there been any confirmation on wots goin to happen next season. probably things will be as is for this season coming anyway.

[legendz]

Yeah, that article is out of date. From what's been said on here, it seems summer soccer will stay and there'll will be a 12 team Premier with a split. This is all to be confirmed so everything has to be taken with a pinch of salt.
It's hard to know on the A Championship. If the FAI grant the wish of clubs who want to remove the requirement to field an A side, there'll be less A sides entering. 3 first division clubs already enter without the requirement, if for arguments sake only 5 Premier were to enter an A side as well, the FAI might have to look at making the A Championship national. Any club looking to join will have to be will to be part of a national set-up. If this was to happen, which is wild speculation on my behalf, it's hard to know if enough clubs will enter to the A Championship, so that it can still be run.

[theboy]

Any up date on whats happening with the A-Championship?

[legendz]

Any up date on whats happening with the A-Championship?

No use in asking... the answer is nobody knows.

[gael353]

This will be the last season of A championship as the plan is to have a super dooper under 19s running all through winter

[legendz]

If you are right, it'll be a bad move. There has to be a pathway for new clubs to join the league.

[cornflakes]

If you are right, it'll be a bad move. There has to be a pathway for new clubs to join the league.

There is, its called an application form

[legendz]

It's a great system alright for promoting the game!
As far as I know across the water the youth league is U18 level but 3 U19's are allowed and they also have an U16 level. Half-way between might be ideal for the League of Ireland, a youth league at U17 level but 3 U18's allowed. The A Championship then should remain, a pathway for potential new clubs. For Premier and established clubs it'd be the level to field players around 18 and 20.

[culloty82]

Dynamos have appointed Brian McCarthy as their general manager, are holding their usual pre-season open trials, and are installing floodlights at Cahermoneen to allow Friday night matches, so they're operating on the basis that at least the 2011 A Championship is going ahead.

[legendz]

Installing floodlights is development of sorts. Clubs need years to develop and establish themselves, as does the A Championship itself.

[sligoman]

Sligo Rovers holding trials for A team if anyone here interested. Details here (http://foot.ie/threads/146025-A-team-U-20-trials?p=1439911#post1439911).

[TheBoss]

According to this, Castlebar Celtic are pulling out:

http://foot.ie/threads/124208-Mayo-League-General-Topics?p=1439916&viewfull=1#post1439916

[theboy]

Yes heard this yesterday there pulling out and returning to the Mayo League.

[legendz]

The only solution might be to nationalise the A Championship, even if the two Rovers, Limerick, Shels and Finn Harps were the only clubs who wanted to field a team. The U19 league probably is not a bad idea, it's the system used in Scotland.

[colinf]

any fixtures for this yet? th A cup starts end of Feb usually. will Fanad united be in now?

[Sam_Heggy]

Fanad are not in the A League but Letterkenny Rovers have applied, no word on whether it was accepted though.

[legendz]

I think the FAI's insistence on youth structures, though the right idea, is a bit much. As long as clubs can field youth sides for youth leagues the FAI runs, I don't see the problem.