2012 First Division structure?

[gufc2000]

As stated previously, there's every chance that Tralee, Cobh & Carlow could be awarded licences, but may not be elected.

[bluewhitearmy]

It has been heard within the Harps and Longford camps as well.


Thats slightly worrying then.

[nigel-harps1954]

Jesus....of course a pyramid structure works, but jesus isn't an 8 team league a bit much? What about a 10 or 12 team league and then work the 4 Intermediate leagues into it? Seriously, thats ridiculous.

[Neish]

It has been heard within the Harps and Longford camps as well.

Sure who cares about Longford their going to china

http://laymansnews.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/26-becomes-25-as-longford-cut-in-effort-to-curb-the-deficit/

Love the comments at the end of this

[gufct]

Great to see limerick fans believe somebody on here.

[Lim till i die]

My sauces tell me twill be an 8 team league, 28 games, four getting promoted.

Good times.

The ironic thing is some of the micro clubs have been pushing this for a few years.

[Trainee]

My sauces tell me twill be an 8 team league, 28 games, four getting promoted.

Good times.

The ironic thing is some of the micro clubs have been pushing this for a few years.

I heard that the fixtures out next week.

If its only 28 games, I wonder will they delay start of league by having a first Div cup?

[Jofspring]

My sauces tell me twill be an 8 team league, 28 games, four getting promoted.

Good times.

The ironic thing is some of the micro clubs have been pushing this for a few years.

With 4 going up and only 8 in the division this will make for a very boring season and one it doesn't seem we even have to half try and be much good in. Once we can be half decent we are sorted. We will have assembled one of the best first division squads to try win what could possibly the worst first division in years…….Typical.

Pity they couldn't have done that this season.

Good incentive there I suppose for a few teams. If lets say for pure example Limerick, Longford and Waterford are first second and third then Harps, Athlone, Mervue and Wexford have a great chance of premier football next season (sorry Salthill).

[Jofspring]

I heard that the fixtures out next week.

If its only 28 games, I wonder will they delay start of league by having a first Div cup?

Looks like we could have a good few breaks in the first division. A first division Cup wouldn't actually be a bad idea at all just to extend it somewhat.

[geezer]

My sauces tell me twill be an 8 team league, 28 games, four getting promoted.

Good times.

The ironic thing is some of the micro clubs have been pushing this for a few years.


is correct, Carlow cant afford it, Tralee have work to do, Cobh have big issues, GUTS told to come back next year, but from sources today the 16 team league cant happen until 2014 now, not sure of reason but its definite. Wouldnt ya think they would just let limerick up now

[Lim till i die]

If its only 28 games, I wonder will they delay start of league by having a first Div cup?

Remeber the First Division Cup!! :D

That was an odd year, I remember a young Stephen O'Flynn bursting onto the scene in it.


With 4 going up and only 8 in the division this will make for a very boring season and one it doesn't seem we even have to half try and be much good in. Once we can be half decent we are sorted. We will have assembled one of the best first division squads to try win what could possibly the worst first division in years…….Typical.


A large part of me thinks this must have something to do with trying to shaft Limerick in some way.

It'll be hard for us to maintain interest tbh, if it's four up we'll be home and hosed with months to spare.

On the otherhand it could actually lead to some increased interest for the struggling clubs.

[Trainee]

It will be a crazy league with top half promoted and bottom half relegated

[geezer]

Sounds like the george michael league, 28 weeks of squeeky bum time

[legendz]

What's the story with the clubs missing out? Is it off to intermediate leagues?
If the Premier is expanded to 16, be it 2013 or 2014, what'll happen to the four clubs left behind? Will the longterm possibly be a mix of the first division and A Championship, with a regionalised division and some Premier B teams involved?

[Trainee]

What's the story with the clubs missing out? Is it off to intermediate leagues?
If the Premier is expanded to 16, be it 2013 or 2014, what'll happen to the four clubs left behind? Will the longterm possibly be a mix of the first division and A Championship, with a regionalised division and some Premier B teams involved?

16 team premier in 2013

the last few weeks i have found out how the FAI dont give a **** about LOI football so for teams not in the 16 team premier god only knows

[legendz]

I'm not really sure histories count for much...

Ultimately it is a sensible move in my view. There needs to be some sort of pyramid structure in Irish football rather than the state at the moment. Junior football also needs to be amalgimated with Intermediate as there is basically no difference other than a few more suits being given jobs.

Talk of pyramid structures is forum/pub talk. Never going to happen. Junior/Intermediate leagues are run autumn/spring unlike the LoI. There's no need for either to change. The solution as I've mentioned before is LoI clubs and some progressive clubs working together to form their own league with the assistance of the FAI.
If Tralee, Cobh and Carlow aren't joining the LoI, they should look to form a league with possibly Limerick and Cork fielding reserve teams.

[legendz]

16 team premier in 2013

for teams not in that 16 gods only know, the last few weeks i have found out how the FAI dont give a **** about LOI football so for teams not in that 16 god only knows

The FAI seemed to want a mix of the first division and A championship. If it's the only option left to the remaining 4 clubs, I think they will go with it. I wouldn't be against it but we'd be gaining something from that, the 4 first division clubs missing out will not and will quite rightly not be happy.

[culloty82]

Until either the FAI confirm this, or it's reported in the press, probably best to remain wary - after all, every close season sees a story here of one of the Galway sides pulling out, and Wexford were supposedly gone a few weeks ago.

[BonnieShels]

Until either the FAI confirm this, or it's reported in the press, probably best to remain wary - after all, every close season sees a story here of one of the Galway sides pulling out, and Wexford were supposedly gone a few weeks ago.

Sure the Irish press get most of their LOI stories from here!

[thomas72]

IF this is true the league will be a joke the positive I suppose is that we ( Limerick fc ) are nailed on for promotion.
Agree with Lim till I die all the CLUBS work bringing in top players only to find out that Limericks top junior team would finish in this divisions top four.

[Longfordian]

Don't the clubs have to approve any change in the divisions? Not that they'll be allowed vote against whatever the FAI "recommend".

[Trainee]

Don't the clubs have to approve any change in the divisions? Not that they'll be allowed vote against whatever the FAI "recommend".

Normally clubs do have to vote for change, but as it stands there are only 8 teams in first div.

[bluewhitearmy]

If this is true then i will have no interest at all this season as soon as its announced i know we are up.....Idiots havent a clue.

[Lim till i die]

Don't the clubs have to approve any change in the divisions? Not that they'll be allowed vote against whatever the FAI "recommend".

The clubs by and large are a neutered joke

"Right Lads, we're going to have a vote"

"What way would you like us to vote John"

"No hassle John."

[blue til i die]

The clubs by and large are a neutered joke

"Right Lads, we're going to have a vote"

"What way would you like us to vote John"

"No hassle John."

Leave John alone...he's cool :cool:

And to add to the Limerick discussion, spending the money they'll spend this season is pointless anyway imo, should easily walk the division even without the likes of Bradley coming in.

[monkey9]

WTF? This can't be true, surely?? So what's been suggested is that 2012 first division will consist of eight teams with the top four going up??? Does that mean no relegation from the top division this year??

[Lim till i die]

And to add to the Limerick discussion, spending the money they'll spend this season is pointless anyway imo, should easily walk the division even without the likes of Bradley coming in.

Two year deal. :cool:

Gamble and Bradley together in the Premier next year. :cool:

http://gifsoup.com/view3/1748629/loadsamoney-o.gif

[blue til i die]

Two year deal. :cool:

Gamble and Bradley together in the Premier next year. :cool:


Yeah I get that, I'm talking about this season. Don't sign them now, get promoted with much less cost, then sign them next season (if available) or better players when in Premier.

[Lim till i die]

Yeah I get that, I'm talking about this season. Don't sign them now, get promoted with much less cost, then sign them next season (if available) or better players when in Premier.

Both risky.

Also the price would go up when we were in the Premier.

Also we needed a centre mid anyway.

Also we're not spending as much as people think we are.

Not that it matters

Because we're RICH.

[blue til i die]

Both risky.

Also the price would go up when we were in the Premier.

Also we needed a centre mid anyway.

Also we're not spending as much as people think we are.

Not that it matters

Because we're RICH.

We're rich too..apparently players don't accept Monopoly money anymore tho... :(

Hard to know what will happen with the league. Personally a 12-teamer is the best option, if that means facilitating teams over the licencing lines then it should happen. The 8 team thing being mentioned above is ludicrous and simply stupid.

[Lim till i die]

We're rich too..apparently players don't accept Monopoly money anymore tho... :(

Hard to know what will happen with the league. Personally a 12-teamer is the best option, if that means facilitating teams over the licencing lines then it should happen. The 8 team thing being mentioned above is ludicrous and simply stupid.

Some of your players were on ridiculous wedges for picking their arses and looking disinterested last year tbf.

The 8 teams is an absolute joke from our point of view, if it's actually gonna be four up (lol) it's great for the Harps and the Athlones of the world though.

From our point of view I couldn't tell you if things would have been different from a signings point of view if we'd known before xmas that it was gonna be four up (lol) but if Pay O'Sullivan is happy I'm delighted.

It will be great to head into the Premier with a competitive spine which has been playing together for a full year (which will hopefully happen with a few more players tied up in July)

Ideally you don't want to be like Monaghan, using a newspaper column to try and snare impressionable infants, or Shels, scrambling around in the dirt for players. If we're in a position not to be, to go up with a strong, settled, side, heading into a new ground, then brilliant.

[blue til i die]

Some of your players were on ridiculous wedges for picking their arses and looking disinterested last year tbf.

The 8 teams is an absolute joke from our point of view, if it's actually gonna be four up (lol) it's great for the Harps and the Athlones of the world though.

From our point of view I couldn't tell you if things would have been different from a signings point of view if we'd known before xmas that it was gonna be four up (lol) but if Pay O'Sullivan is happy I'm delighted.

It will be great to head into the Premier with a competitive spine which has been playing together for a full year (which will hopefully happen with a few more players tied up in July)

Ideally you don't want to be like Monaghan, using a newspaper column to try and snare impressionable infants, or Shels, scrambling around in the dirt for players. If we're in a position not to be, to go up with a strong, settled, side, heading into a new ground, then brilliant.

U mean most of the alleged ridiculous wedges they were on? Most numbers bandied about by people were quite a bit wide of the mark, but some were well paid admittedly (too well imo) but thats in the past now. Budget sliced in half!

The problem with that 8 team 'yoke', its new official name perhaps? :) ,is that the four teams could be already promoted by the summer, left to play out a meaningless second half of the season, players not caring, fans not caring, and the league suffering the disrepute it would bring imo. I don't personally believe that 8 team league will happen tho, even the fai aren't THAT stupid!

[osarusan]

but if Pay O'Sullivan is happy I'm delighted.


Freudian slip?

[bennocelt]

Leave John alone...he's cool :cool:
.

A tool more like
An 8 team league, wow thats hilarious:D

[legendz]

WTF? This can't be true, surely?? So what's been suggested is that 2012 first division will consist of eight teams with the top four going up??? Does that mean no relegation from the top division this year??

Wasn't a relegation structure agreed for the season ahead? 12th down, 11th to take on winner of the 2nd v 3rd of the first division play-off.

[Dermotron]

Would it be feasible that if the Premier Division went/goes to 16 teams that there could be a 16/20/24 team first division split into North/South. Travel expenses and distances alone is probably a huge turn off for potential clubs entering the league. Yeah some might argue that if you got promoted from said leagues you'd have to travel more but I guess increased gates and sponsor revenues would offset this.

Serie C1 (Lega Pro 1) is split North and South and if 2 teams from the same region get relegated from Serie B, the leagues are re-aligned to keep the balance. Probably a bit too much of a day dream but would surely be a more feasible solution to a single league of 8 and may be a way for the league to be prominent in more counties/large towns (only 14 of 32 counties represented for instance)

[bluewhitearmy]

Wasn't a relegation structure agreed for the season ahead? 12th down, 11th to take on winner of the 2nd v 3rd of the first division play-off.


Apparently Ex-Players owed money are stopping Cobh now they had told had tol dthe players they wanted for next season that everything was on course.......Tralee being asked to prove they have the money to last a season.

I should have known something would happen after years of suffering the league will finish earlier so i will probably be out of the country when we win the league.

[GalwayRed]

Some of your players were on ridiculous wedges for picking their arses and looking disinterested last year tbf.

The 8 teams is an absolute joke from our point of view, if it's actually gonna be four up (lol) it's great for the Harps and the Athlones of the world though.

From our point of view I couldn't tell you if things would have been different from a signings point of view if we'd known before xmas that it was gonna be four up (lol) but if Pay O'Sullivan is happy I'm delighted.

It will be great to head into the Premier with a competitive spine which has been playing together for a full year (which will hopefully happen with a few more players tied up in July)

Ideally you don't want to be like Monaghan, using a newspaper column to try and snare impressionable infants, or Shels, scrambling around in the dirt for players. If we're in a position not to be, to go up with a strong, settled, side, heading into a new ground, then brilliant.

What are you on about? :confused: We've signed the majority of last seasons team back, strengthened in 1 or 2 positions and look in perfectly good shape for next season.

[legendz]

Would it be feasible that if the Premier Division went/goes to 16 teams that there could be a 16/20/24 team first division split into North/South. Travel expenses and distances alone is probably a huge turn off for potential clubs entering the league. Yeah some might argue that if you got promoted from said leagues you'd have to travel more but I guess increased gates and sponsor revenues would offset this.

Serie C1 (Lega Pro 1) is split North and South and if 2 teams from the same region get relegated from Serie B, the leagues are re-aligned to keep the balance. Probably a bit too much of a day dream but would surely be a more feasible solution to a single league of 8 and may be a way for the league to be prominent in more counties/large towns (only 14 of 32 counties represented for instance)

What I'd see feasible for the first division is that it'll a bit like the A Championship was with some Premier clubs fielding reserve sides.


If Limerick, Waterford, Longford and Mervue, 4th to 7th last season, were the top 4 this year, Athlone, Finn Harps, Wexford and SD Galway, if Salhill and GUST go that way, could be the four to miss out.


A long with recent A teams (Carlow, Cobh, Fanad and Tralee), it'd be other near recent clubs Castlebar and Tullamore who'd possibly be likely to get involved. In terms of Premier teams fielding a reserve side, Shamrock Rovers, Limerick, UCD and possibly Derry might be the most likeliest to get involved.


That's only about 14 clubs. I won't be ideal, far from ideal in some respects but seems the most plausible.

[4tothefloor]

8 team league is a joke. Not that a Tralee or Carlow (no offense) would bring much more competitiveness to be honest. Limerick and Waterford surely nailed on for promotion. And with only 28 games, surely a one month break for the Euro's during the summer? I'd be happy with that! :D

[nigel-harps1954]

Surely if they go ahead with it there has to be a first division cup. 28 games is ridiculous.

[adamd164]

Surely if there are 8 teams it should be 35 games and not 28, which would still be ridiculous because teams would play each other 5 times.

This all just seems to be speculation anyway... just because Cobh had a few ex-players not happy doesn't mean they won't broker a deal with them by the start of the season to pay back in installments or something - that would be sufficient for a license. As for Tralee, I don't know enough but they were looking to set up a 400 club to raise funds so presumably that's not down the drain yet either.

[culloty82]

Tralee have also started a stadium development fund last weekend, which was immediately after their last meeting with the FAI, so obviously they, and most likely Cobh and Carlow also, have been told to carry on as normal until further notice.

[Longfordian]

8 team league is a joke. Not that a Tralee or Carlow (no offense) would bring much more competitiveness to be honest. Limerick and Waterford surely nailed on for promotion. And with only 28 games, surely a one month break for the Euro's during the summer? I'd be happy with that! :D

There won't be much between us and Waterford IMO. We've stengthened a good bit and only finished two points off them last year.

[passerrby]

You really are bitter ltid, enjoy your season

[bluewhitearmy]

Tralee have also started a stadium development fund last weekend, which was immediately after their last meeting with the FAI, so obviously they, and most likely Cobh and Carlow also, have been told to carry on as normal until further notice.


They have pulled out a few people have said.

[gufct]

Yes we know nothing and all Limerick fans are always right http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/48792/salthill-devon-to-play-league-of-ireland-football-at-terryland-with-rebranded-team. I hope the other 3 teams were told about this.

[Lim till i die]

http://kuwaitiful.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Sarcastic-Smiley-Face.png

[ifk101]

Provisional First Division fixture list out today.


Meanwhile, the FAI will today release the First Division fixture list for next season, although it will be conditional upon the conclusion of the club licensing process on February 12. Officials at Tralee Dynamoes and Cobh Ramblers last night said that they were still hoping to secure First Division licenses for the coming season, with a fresh vacancy having been confirmed in the second tier following the decision of the Galway United Supporters Trust not to amalgamate with either Salthill Devon or Mervue United.

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/sport/soccer/bray-up-early-for-the-cup-181570.html#ixzz1kYjyYyGQ

[Mr A]

8 teams it is.. Tralee and Cobh on a waiting list of sorts.

http://www.fai.ie/domestic-a-grassroots/airtricity-league/news/102334-airtricity-league-first-division-fixtures-released.html

It says the fixtures are out but I don't see them there as yet.