What's the future direction for the league with 19 clubs?

[gufcfan]

I don't understand how people think a single-tier league of Ireland is a such a fantastic idea. Anyone outside of the running for European places will have massive drop offs in crowds. No threat of relegation would have a terrible effect on crowds. Like who the hell would care if a team was say 2 points off 15th place with 2 games left. There has to be relegation and a single-tier division is just too many teams.

[Lim till i die]

There aren't going to be enough teams around in the next few years to have anything other than a laughable second tier anyway tbh.

Cut to the bone amateur/reserve regional leagues is the way to go imo.

I came up with an incredibly complicated, drawn out, league of Ireland system while bored at home a few weeks back, I'll try throw up the jist of it tonight for people to poke holes in.

[White Horse]

No threat of relegation would have a terrible effect on crowds.

Did the threat of relegation pack 'em in in Terryland last year.

It never has in Oriel Park.

[gufc2000]

Did the threat of relegation pack 'em in in Terryland last year.

It never has in Oriel Park.
Ya we got 1400 at the play-off against Monaghan.

Previous years saw big crowds for games against the likes of Bray, Finn Harps, Longford etc. 600 GUFC heads also went to Belfield in 2008 on the last night of the season. You mean to tell me that 600 people would have gone to Belfield if there was nothing at stake?

[nigel-harps1954]

Ya we got 1400 at the play-off against Monaghan.

Previous years saw big crowds for games against the likes of Bray, Finn Harps, Longford etc. 600 GUFC heads also went to Belfield in 2008 on the last night of the season. You mean to tell me that 600 people would have gone to Belfield if there was nothing at stake?

So what's better about sitting mid-table in the first division with nothing to play for?

At least in a single division you'll be playing the top teams who will bring bigger away crowds.

I don't know about you, but I'd prefer the scenario of, a hypothetical 18 team league of Ireland, where Harps are sitting 16th place nothing to play for, a game against Sligo, who are challenging for honours, who will bring 200+ fans to Ballybofey which will generate more interest in the game locally too, rather than, another typical First Division season where we're sitting mid-table, playing Wexford Youths, where a total of 5 fans come up and 400 locals.

See the difference?

[legendz]

It's a hard topic to discuss when there's no hard proof of where the next club(s) are going to come from. At the moment the first division is heading in the direction of a 7 team division.

Are there any leagues in Europe with a single tier division? In other sports you can look at the Pro 12 in rugby but they've brought in play-offs. Maybe the FAI will take a leaf out of their books with a rename to Premier 12 and play-offs etc!

Without getting an answer, I sense established first division clubs will not accept a regional second tier? Where does the league go from here? How many clubs were awarded a Premier licence for 2012? If licencing is ever to become credible in the top tier there has to be a standard. Without trying to magic up clubs I listed 7 earlier who could have joined a second tier. Now I can well be wrong but I think a second tier of that nature would be more appealing for more clubs to feed into the league.

Getting back to hard facts anyway and where we are, has there been any word on the process for clubs to join the league next year?

[Neish]

Possible 2013 teams:


Cobh could also be returning to the league. That puts the total at 18 teams. The Premier will probably remain with 12 teams. If Dundalk get a license, it will be 19 teams. The FAI would surely have to add another team. Maybe Tralee, or if they solve the Galway problem, they probably create another one in Donegal with Fanad of Letterkenny like the U19 league. They couldn't have a 6 team First Division though tbh, I wouldn't be surprised.

If more then one Galway club's isn't working what makes you think more then one Donegal club will?

[Charlie Darwin]

If more then one Galway club's isn't working what makes you think more then one Donegal club will?
Because neither of the Galway clubs has any fans and the one that actually had fans was run into the ground by a board of idiots.

[Sam_Heggy]

Because neither of the Galway clubs has any fans and the one that actually had fans was run into the ground by a board of idiots.

And the 2 other Donegal sides do?

[Charlie Darwin]

Is there a third that has considered applying to the League? Harps have had their problems but if run correctly they won't go under like Galway. If Fanad have a sensible business plan and find a way to attract crowds, they could well co-exist with Harps (and Derry).

[Sam_Heggy]

Letterkenny Rovers have stated their new stand (holds just over 200) was built with the intentions of getting into the LOI.

Fanad are in the middle of nowhere. Crowds of around 200 would be as high as it would get for them id say.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah, I wasn't aware of Letterkenny Rovers. That sounds like more of a long-term project. Clubs can and do exist on attendances lower that that, and sure if they're struggling they can borrow a counter from Galway. People are right to be concerned about attendances but as long as the club is governed correctly, it can exist on low crowds in the first division, though they probably won't be clamouring for promotion.

[Sam_Heggy]

The problem is, low crowds have a knock on effect.

Low crowds mean sponsors won't be keen on handing over hard earned money to somewhere his sponsorship won't be seen.

There's a hell of alot of money required to run a club in LOI and that's not even including wages.

Besides, Fanad were scared off when they saw what kind of figures are required to run a club for the year.

[Charlie Darwin]

A knock-on effect from what, though? The absolute minimum requirement for a club entering the LOI would be to lowball their crowd projections. I know realism is a foreign concept to the people in charge of football in this country, but some clubs seem capable of it. I know a lot of money is required and the FAI should really be doing everything to make the barriers as low as possible, but if they can find a way to budget prudently and still put out a team then they should be applauded. I think the barriers would be a bit smaller for Fanad because, unlike a lot of other junior sides, they already operate an expensive stadium so the jump up to league status wouldn't be as huge.

[Sam_Heggy]

expensive stadium?? Umm, Finn Park is Camp Nou compared to Triagh Locha.

Basic costs are roughly €100k for a season in the 1st Div. That's alot of money for any Junior club.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ever been to Fanad CD?

[Charlie Darwin]

No, I'm sure it's nothing on Finn Park but it's still their own ground and they are able to pay for maintenance themselves, so jumping up to league status wouldn't be as big a bridge as it might be for other clubs. It's still going to be a struggle for any team to survive in the league but I think other clubs would face higher obstacles entering the league.

[gufc2000]

Any league that requires you to pay more to enter the league than the amount of prize money you can get if you finish in a certain position is codding itself. Sure some teams are losing money straightaway if that's the case.

Isn't it something like €19k to enter the league?

Anyone have the full list of prize money for the different positions available?

[Lim till i die]

Any league that requires you to pay more to enter the league than the amount of prize money you can get if you finish in a certain position is codding itself. Sure some teams are losing money straightaway if that's the case.

I'd actually be in favour of this in theory if twas done properly, especially if you ended up with a one tier league.

Adds a small bit of jeopardy to stop teams throwing their hat at it mid season and acting the ******.

[Partizan]

It will be an 18 team single division next year with the new Galway-GUST club invited to join. Salthill and Mervue will pull out.

[gordongekko]

It will be an 18 team single division next year with the new Galway-GUST club invited to join. Salthill and Mervue will pull out.

happy days we can stop complaining now :)

[A face]

It will be an 18 team single division next year with the new Galway-GUST club invited to join. Salthill and Mervue will pull out.

I'd like to see them both row in behind GUST as well

[NeverFeltBetter]

Is there really any legitmate chance of a three-way merger or is that just pie in the sky? Everyone seemed pretty resistant to that idea before the season started.

[gordongekko]

Is there really any legitmate chance of a three-way merger or is that just pie in the sky? Everyone seemed pretty resistant to that idea before the season started.

Can we shoot them all and start a new club gustsdgmug it sounds catchy

[NeverFeltBetter]

Galway FC would probably do.

[Charlie Darwin]

It seems like SD Galway missed an opportunity when they could have rebranded as Galway Disunited.

[bullit]

Just don't call it GUST,that name blows !!