2012 First Division structure?

[legendz]

The removal of the third tier is a problem for GUST? A merger shouldn't be their only option. The FAI will have to take a look at that situation. Even if the FAI don't want to run the league at that level, is there anything stopping the clubs themselves running a league? Up north, Fanad, Castlebar could lobby some LoI clubs to field reserve sides in a northern league. Down south, Tullamore and some reserve side could form some sort of southern league. If clubs ran that tier themselves, they wouldn't have to worry too much about restrictions and possibly a few more club might join.

[Jofspring]

Limeick fans have short memories

The FAI's decision effectively disenfranchised the incumbent Limerick F.C. and its chairman Danny Drew, although the organisation remained receptive to the continued participation of Limerick within senior football. To this end, FAI chief executive John Delaney openly solicited approaches from other interested parties within the city of Limerick even as he announced the rejection of Limerick F.C.'s appeal: "We want a healthy Limerick based club in the new Eircom League of Ireland and if interested entities seek a licence, we would assess them carefully for their suitability to meet the criteria required to play in the league."[8] On January 3, 2007, the FAI confirmed that its appeal for Limerick-based applicants to the league had garnered interest from a number of parties, one of which identified itself as Soccer Limerick, a consortium purporting to represent the entire spectrum of Limerick football, from schoolboy to Junior (amateur) level, and operating under the auspices of the Limerick Sports Partnership.[9]

Eight days later, Soccer Limerick confirmed that its constituent committees had approved the submission of a formal application for a UEFA club license, with a view to gaining entry to the First Division of the National League for the 2007 season. Soccer Limerick spokesman Ger Finnan confirmed that Limerick 37 planned to stage home fixtures at Jackman Park, headquarters of the LDMC, and would announce the appointment of a first-team manager on Monday January 15, 2007.[10] Paul McGee was subsequently appointed manager of Limerick 37, and signed 11 players before the start of the season.[11]

With McGee's results and style of play not going down well with the home fans, the club opted to replace him with former player and manager Mike Kerley, who brought abput mid-table respectability, as well as a remarkable end of season run which saw Limerick end Waterford's promotion hopes with a 5-1 win in Limerick, a 1-0 away defeat of eventual division winners Dundalk, and most memorably, a 1-1 draw away to shelbourne, with Colin Scanlan's late equaliser denying Shelbourne the title and promotion in the 2008 season.

I don't get it. Fair enough there are slight comparisons in what happened us and ye but what has that got to do with any Limerick Fans commenting on the current situation with Galway and how does any Limerick fan commenting on the current situation constitute as "Limerick fans have short memories"?

[adamd164]

Summary from Galway forum of their meeting tonight:


Just finished. Negotiations are taking place between gust and 2 clubs exploring the possibility of some kind of merger. FAI will not accept gust's application because it was 8 days late but want a team representing galway playing in Terryland. Trust will continue to explore possibilities. Good turnout tg4 cameras lots of passion. Next few days massive for future of galway football.

Regarding discussions with Salthill and Mervue about a merger:


Two and a half hours of passionate debate from a great turnout considering the notice. Strong opinions on all sides.
Salthill offered SD Galway FC as the name, two places on a subcommittee which would run club and answer to club's board.
Mervue had a verbal offer. Little detail available yet, but did make mention of openness to other GDL clubs.
General consensus was that neither deal was offering enough and further negotiations were required.

Some favoured taking improved deal to keep soccer alive in city. Others felt tying to one club over other would alienate too many other local clubs and ultimately would fail as a result.
But if we hold out till next year the rules could have changed again and we may not get a licence then...

[Lim till i die]

So in summary it looks like Salthill will be taking the Galway name for their senior team for the purposes of competing in the LoI.....

2 places on a sub committee :bulgy:

It's a ready made club for the GUST if they get behind it tbf, decent ground in Terryland, decent training facilities in Drom.

[Sean South]

I don't get it. Fair enough there are slight comparisons in what happened us and ye but what has that got to do with any Limerick Fans commenting on the current situation with Galway and how does any Limerick fan commenting on the current situation constitute as "Limerick fans have short memories"?

Deflect, deflect, deflect. It's some he dose a lot.

So it's Salthill Devon FC Galway with two trust members on the board?

[Terry]

Posted last night on www.galwayunitedfc.net by Kevb

Two and a half hours of passionate debate from a great turnout considering the notice. Strong opinions on all sides.
Salthill offered SD Galway FC as the name, two places on a subcommittee which would run club and answer to club's board.
Mervue had a verbal offer. Little detail available yet, but did make mention of openness to other GDL clubs.
General consensus was that neither deal was offering enough and further negotiations were required.

Some favoured taking improved deal to keep soccer alive in city. Others felt tying to one club over other would alienate too many other local clubs and ultimately would fail as a result.
But if we hold out till next year the rules could have changed again and we may not get a licence then...

[Red Star]

So that's Galway United dead and buried. Over 70 years of history gone.

I think the Trust have to share some of the responsibility in the death of their club. They were strongly advised if they walked away from GUFC that their new clubs chances of getting licence was a non starter but they went ahead. They blame the old board, Leeson, the FAI, the two other clubs in Galway for the demise of Untied but they most share some of this blame and their action to walk away was the final blow that killed untied.

[Macy]

So that's Galway United dead and buried. Over 70 years of history gone.
Only for a year or two until they buy the name and history.

[WoodquayBoy]

SD Galway FC??!! Galway & Mervue United FC??!! Piece in Tribune today on the latest, though the online verison only has the piece on a merger with Salthill
http://www.galwaynews.ie/23804-mervue-united-and-gust-talks-possible-league-ireland-alliance

[JC_GUFC]

JC GUFC usually gives any updates on Carlow, haven't seen many more of their fans here, but maybe he'll know better.

Nah - I just used their crest as my avatar for a while as I liked it! I'm a GUST FC fan! :)

[Mr A]

They won't accept GUST's application as it was 8 days late. How late was the new Derry City's a couple of years ago?

Wonderful level of consistency....

[Mr A]

They were strongly advised if they walked away from GUFC that their new clubs chances of getting licence was a non starter but they went ahead. They blame the old board, Leeson, the FAI, the two other clubs in Galway for the demise of Untied but they most share some of this blame and their action to walk away was the final blow that killed untied.

This completely ignores the fact that there was zero chance of the original entity getting a license. Yes, a lot of Galway fans didn't spot the danger signs. They're hardly alone in that, it has happened at plenty of clubs and will happen again.

[JC_GUFC]

SD Galway FC??!! Galway & Mervue United FC??!! [/URL]

AS I said on GUFC.net the new name will be Galway S & M FC

[Longfordian]

Anyone following them last year must be well into masochism anyway.

[legendz]

They won't accept GUST's application as it was 8 days late. How late was the new Derry City's a couple of years ago?

Wonderful level of consistency....

Clearly an attempt to resolve the mess of having 3 clubs in Galway. The only place for a third club really would be if there were two strong clubs already.

[derm]

AS I said on GUFC.net the new name will be Galway S & M FC

It's a sad irony that had your club been called anything else then Galway United FC may have been acceptable to all parties.

[JC_GUFC]

Clearly an attempt to resolve the mess of having 3 clubs in Galway. The only place for a third club really would be if there were two strong clubs already.

That's exactly it. The FAI have taken advantage of the mess at Galway United to do this and as much as it pains me it's understandable. 3 Galway clubs in the First Division would have been total madness with none of the 3 having any chance of promotion.

What's surprising to me (I'm based in Dublin and pretty much out of the loop) is that a 3-way merger has been ruled out by one of the parties involved. It would seem to me that if GUST did agree an acceptable merger that the writing would be on the wall for the other club not involved.

If common sense prevails this should definitely work out for the best for all of the clubs involved but that's a big if...

[Red Star]

They won't accept GUST's application as it was 8 days late. How late was the new Derry City's a couple of years ago?

Wonderful level of consistency....

The 8 days late is only an excuse used by the trust to shift the blame. Like most stories from their camp its not even half the story. They were told not to go down that route but their over inflated ego got in the way and won't accept the other options giving to them. "We didn't create this mess so we're not fixing it" They will dress up this "merger" too as two clubs coming together but they don't bring much to the table in terms of football at the end of the day all they are is a supporters club next year they will be supporting Salthill.

[gufc2000]

The 8 days late is only an excuse used by the trust to shift the blame. Like most stories from their camp its not even half the story. They were told not to go down that route but their over inflated ego got in the way and won't accept the other options giving to them. "We didn't create this mess so we're not fixing it" They will dress up this "merger" too as two clubs coming together but they don't bring much to the table in terms of football at the end of the day all they are is a supporters club next year they will be supporting Salthill.
Quite the opposite in fact, get some proper info on what's going on before spouting on this. So what do you propose the Trust have done? Let GUFC fold and disappear off the radar. Do you think GUST wanted to make the hard call and go it alone? Of course we'd have preferred to see the original entity to continue trading, but that was a non-runner

[KevB76]

It would seem to me that if GUST did agree an acceptable merger that the writing would be on the wall for the other club not involved.


Not necessarily - I dont see any reason why the "left out" club would fare any differently to how it has done the last couple of seasons. Surely it would just carry on with its own plans in its own way as it has done up to now - its always had a bigger club to contend with, so no change there.

[adamd164]

Isn't the 1st division lineup supposed to be announced today? Hopefully the FAI haven't shifted the date back again.

Bit of a farce that clubs don't know yet how many games they'll have!

[legendz]

Have GUST any plan Z? If a merger isn't an option. If there facing a year in the wilderness, would it be an idea to form a league with the like of Sligo Rovers reserves, Derry City reserves and Finn Harps reserves, and possibly sound out Fanad and Castlebar for being involved. It mightn't be ideal but it could be the only option.

[culloty82]

Isn't the 1st division lineup supposed to be announced today? Hopefully the FAI haven't shifted the date back again.

Bit of a farce that clubs don't know yet how many games they'll have!

Don't think that's happening now - all Tralee said this week was that they may be told "by the end of the month", as the fixtures will be released in February, so unless clubs are told otherwise, suspect it'll be licensing day, February 12th, before anything definitely happens.

[Red Star]

So the Trust were told yeah apply for a licence you have a great chance of getting into the league? No. You were told at the very beginning you were unlikely to get a licence as you had little or nothing to offer on your own and advised not to go down that route.

[JC_GUFC]

Not necessarily - I dont see any reason why the "left out" club would fare any differently to how it has done the last couple of seasons. Surely it would just carry on with its own plans in its own way as it has done up to now - its always had a bigger club to contend with, so no change there.

How they've fared over the last few seasons is precisely the problem. The clubs aren't
sustainable in the long run and sooner rather than later the club members would
Qquestion the wisdom of paying membership fees to fund a League of Ireland dream when there is another representative from the area.

[Lim till i die]

Mervue and Salthill are playing chicken because they hate one another though.

Correct??

[JC_GUFC]

So the Trust were told yeah apply for a licence you have a great chance of getting into the league? No. You were told at the very beginning you were unlikely to get a licence as you had little or nothing to offer on your own and advised not to go down that route.

But staying with Galway United FC was not an option because s license would not have been granted anyway but you obviously know that.

The 8 days was the reason given by the FAI not GUST. However you are probably right that an on time application would have been met with the same answer as 3 clubs.from one city is obviously total madness.

I actually believe the FAI's thinking on this is right but getting it into an acceptable reality is unfortunately the hard part.

[Red Star]

United getting a licence was always going to be a problem but once you walked away you were giving other options instead of setting up FC Trust but your egos got in the way and now you're eating humble pie. You should have really considered the merger then... But Instead we got more Galway football politics with members of the Trust bad mouthing the other two clubs until the meeting the other week when they were told to zip it.

[Mr Maroon]

Who do you support, Red Star? You seem to know a lot about the egomaniacal personalities of the people involved.

[Olander]

DA RHHHOVVERSSSS from the Whest obviously.

Hardly surprising as half of Sligo attends NUIG, which in turn seems to give them the impression they know the intricate workings of all things in Galway football.

[Red Star]

I'm a Untied season ticket holder the last two years and involved with under age football in Galway these days. But like some one said deflect deflect its all the trust do

[gufct]

I'm a Untied season ticket holder the last two years and involved with under age football in Galway these days. But like some one said deflect deflect its all the trust do

Never knew you had Badges Nick and pity you cant spell the team you follow.

[BonnieShels]

Untied is a pretty apt misspelling.

[Jofspring]

Isn't the 1st division lineup supposed to be announced today? Hopefully the FAI haven't shifted the date back again.

Bit of a farce that clubs don't know yet how many games they'll have!

I thought it was January 19th was the date too but seen it mentioned that it's actually Feb 19th.

[JC_GUFC]

I thought it was January 19th was the date too but seen it mentioned that it's actually Feb 19th.

It was due to this Galway debacle that it's been postponed.

[JC_GUFC]

United getting a licence was always going to be a problem but once you walked away you were giving other options instead of setting up FC Trust but your egos got in the way and now you're eating humble pie. You should have really considered the merger then... But Instead we got more Galway football politics with members of the Trust bad mouthing the other two clubs until the meeting the other week when they were told to zip it.

You seem to have quite strong views on the issue for a supporter of another club.

Do you not thing it's odd that there are virtually no dissenting GUFC voices on the actions of the Trust?

[Red Star]

I live in Galway I go to united home games when they aren't playing its Mervue. Don't see why it would be a issue who I support.

[WoodquayBoy]

Just as who Galway United fans choose to support - or not support - is not an issue either

[culloty82]

The Journal's (http://thescore.thejournal.ie/galway-clubs-hold-talks-over-possible-merger-332174-Jan2012/#comments) take on the situation.

[citybone]

If Mervue merge with Gust i could see Salthill dropping out but if Salthill merge with Gust i can see Mervue continuing as is. Mervue had a good season last season and if the average att is anyway accurate, they should be able to continue running costs.

[culloty82]

Doesn't seem to be online yet, but today's Indo covers Tralee's application submission yesterday - suggests a licence could be awarded, but that this in itself wouldn't guarantee election.

[gufcfan]

If Mervue merge with Gust i could see Salthill dropping out but if Salthill merge with Gust i can see Mervue continuing as is. Mervue had a good season last season and if the average att is anyway accurate, they should be able to continue running costs.
7th out of 11 teams in a what was the poorest bottom half of the Division I can remember for a long time.

Mervue's membership will not put up with having to subsidise a LOI team forever.

[bluewhitearmy]

7th out of 11 teams in a what was the poorest bottom half of the Division I can remember for a long time.

Mervue's membership will not put up with having to subsidise a LOI team forever.

Ye can not talk about anyones on the pitch performance ye were a disgrace in that respect last season.

[geezer]

Ye can not talk about anyones on the pitch performance ye were a disgrace in that respect last season.

I have to agree watched them a lot last season and any fair minded football enthusiast would say they are a decent team and they recovered at the end even after losing young Gaffney. They seem to have a bond between them as well.

[gufc2000]

Ye can not talk about anyones on the pitch performance ye were a disgrace in that respect last season.
And we'd be the first ones to admit that we were shambolic on the pitch. Who are ya telling that 32 defeats in 36 games is a disgrace. But the show was kept on the road, fixtures were fulfilled. Didn't cop out like Dublin City.

I dunno do half of ye on this site know what it feels like to have the heart ripped out of your club, the club you have followed dearly. Dressing up as Mervue or Salthill (which is basically the proposals on offer atm) in disguise just isn't the same

[BonnieShels]

And we'd be the first ones to admit that we were shambolic on the pitch. Who are ya telling that 32 defeats in 36 games is a disgrace. But the show was kept on the road, fixtures were fulfilled. Didn't cop out like Dublin City.

I dunno do half of ye on this site know what it feels like to have the heart ripped out of your club, the club you have followed dearly. Dressing up as Mervue or Salthill (which is basically the proposals on offer atm) in disguise just isn't the same


Well those of us who have had the heart ripped out of our clubs either faded off into the ether (Kildare County, Spingal [Lamper, The Lep]), changed club (Spingal [b2bw]), enjoyed a brief sojourn in the Discover Ireland League (Derry, Cork, Shams fans), managed to pull through to an extent (Drogs, Bray) or endured the interminable misery of 5 seasons in the first division (Shels fans).
And that's not to mention the clubs in precarious positions (Bohs, Pats, Harps) and the lamented Kilkenny City.

I'd say there's a fair few of us who know exactly what it's like.

[bluewhitearmy]

And we'd be the first ones to admit that we were shambolic on the pitch. Who are ya telling that 32 defeats in 36 games is a disgrace. But the show was kept on the road, fixtures were fulfilled. Didn't cop out like Dublin City.

I dunno do half of ye on this site know what it feels like to have the heart ripped out of your club, the club you have followed dearly. Dressing up as Mervue or Salthill (which is basically the proposals on offer atm) in disguise just isn't the same


And not for a second would i knock ye about that i was just answering the fact that gufcfan was having a go at Mervue for finishing 7th.

If ye were to merge with Mervue btw what would happen to the 15 players or so they have already signed?

[gufc2000]

And not for a second would i knock ye about that i was just answering the fact that gufcfan was having a go at Mervue for finishing 7th.

If ye were to merge with Mervue btw what would happen to the 15 players or so they have already signed?
Mervue will plough on with their preparations, we'd just be morphed into them. The club will be Mervue in disguise imo.

Galway & Mervue United is a wretched name too btw.

[bullit]

From reading all,i realy can't see any middle ground between either GUST/Salthill or GUST/Mervue.
I think the GUST lads are going to have to play it out,build some kinda fanbase/fan club in the meanwhile and hope. HOPE, That they can re-engage with the fai either during the season or in the off-season leading into 2013. :(

[WoodquayBoy]

Well those of us who have had the heart ripped out of our clubs either faded off into the ether (Kildare County, Spingal [Lamper, The Lep]), changed club (Spingal [b2bw]), enjoyed a brief sojourn in the Discover Ireland League (Derry, Cork, Shams fans), managed to pull through to an extent (Drogs, Bray) or endured the interminable misery of 5 seasons in the first division (Shels fans).
And that's not to mention the clubs in precarious positions (Bohs, Pats, Harps) and the lamented Kilkenny City.

I'd say there's a fair few of us who know exactly what it's like.
The difference between most of your examples and our situation is those clubs were still playing in the LOI - we're going down the route of Sp Fingal, Kildare and Kilkenny in not being around this season so no, most of you don't know, understand or appreciate what we are going through