An 8 Team Premier?

[Mr_Parker]

Most Irish League fans will tell you that when the Irish League experimented with an 8 team league, it became so repetitive, that fans started voting with their feet as the so-called big games became less and less atracitive. Playing the same teams every few weeks was unattractive to the fans and media interest lessened too.

[sullanefc]

Most Irish League fans will tell you that when the Irish League experimented with an 8 team league, it became so repetitive, that fans started voting with their feet as the so-called big games became less and less atracitive. Playing the same teams every few weeks was unattractive to the fans and media interest lessened too.

What is rare is wonderful.

[ToberonaTornado]

Mods -Make the vote public so we can id the 3 that think this idea would be ok. :D

How in the name of ...... was this proposal even floated from the FAI in the 1st place??

[Mr A]

The idea seems to be that due to limited resources, the focus would be put on 8 clubs initially to raise standards.

[sbgawa]

The idea seems to be that due to limited resources, the focus would be put on 8 clubs initially to raise standards.


If thats the thinking then i think we should just have a two team league with Rovers and Harps and focus all the resources there.
spreading the pennies around 8 teams is mad , focus on two and do it right.
Two 12000 seater stadiums with full scale academies and when we have that in place we expand to 3 teams and so on...whats not to like?

[Briuk]

Crazy idea.
What the fai needs to do is to connect the loi with the regional leagues and make one system of football in the country any work in any other direction is just a waste of time

[marinobohs]

Mods -Make the vote public so we can id the 3 that think this idea would be ok. :D

How in the name of ...... was this proposal even floated from the FAI in the 1st place??
It’s the FAI 😁 no idea is too mad or stupid not to be given oxygen.
Maybe revert to 4 points for away win, 3 points home win, 2 points away draw 1 point home draw farce of yesteryear.
No gimmick too silly not to be tried in the FAI ever increasingly pathetic attempts to be seen to “do something “ about LOI.
“Would there be anything to be said for another mass” 😁

[Longfordian]

Cabinteely are making noises about reviewing their participation in senior LOI. Very disappointed with their support from the local community apparently.

[total hoofball]

Cabinteely are making noises about reviewing their participation in senior LOI. Very disappointed with their support from the local community apparently.
Didn't hear that. They're doing everything right on the pitch but they're going to struggle to grow in the First Division playing in a Rugby ground in Blackrock. Then if they make it to the Premier Division then they will struggle to grow playing out of somewhere like the Carlisle Grounds or Belfield. Stuck between a rock and hard place without their own home in the locality.

I can see another Dublin City, Monaghan or Wexford meltdown if they go up unless somebody is happy to properly bankroll them for at least 5 years and get a stadium developed by then.

[Longfordian]

It's in The Irish Times or the Indo today I forget which.

[GUFCghost]

Rearranging the fixture format is just deck chairs, that's self evident. But why all the opposition to a split? A lot of European countries have splits, if we had a 12 team league with a 6 team split towards the end, the top 6 teams would all be full time (more than likely). It seems to me the best way to maximise our tiny pool of support/talent.

[Martinho II]

Yeah heard about Cabinteely possibly pulling out a few weeks back. It reminds me so much of the Mervue Utd story in 2013 when they also were considering pulling out due to lack of support from the local public and the fallout from Galway Utd pulling out of loi two years earlier. And the following season they pulled out.
I am assuming that Cabinteely are pulling out next season Longfordian?

[Longfordian]

No idea Marty just saw they're doing a review. Article is here:

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/devlin-focused-on-promotion-amid-wider-cabinteely-review-1.4026215?mode=amp&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[David BOHie]

I wonder how much support Cabo would get from Dun Laoighre or Shankhill etc. Would people from outside the town feeling an association to the town of Cabinteely?

It's a huge untapped catchment area though. It would be great if they got a stadium built and were able to grow properly. Fair enough there's a lot of teams in Dublin, but to lose Cabo and possibly Limerick would be dreadful for the game. We need more teams not less

[colonelwest]

Wasn't there some sort of plans to build a multi purpose community ground in the park at Cabo a few years ago?

[David BOHie]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/new-players-eye-role-in-league-of-ireland-38519140.html

"Representatives of underage teams in Kerry, Cavan/Monaghan, Kildare, Carlow/Kilkenny and Mayo will be invited as there are hopes these areas might be interested in fielding senior teams in the future."

Be fantastic additions to the league. Still think we could sustain 2 divisions of 12 teams.

[Kiki Balboa]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/new-players-eye-role-in-league-of-ireland-38519140.html

"Representatives of underage teams in Kerry, Cavan/Monaghan, Kildare, Carlow/Kilkenny and Mayo will be invited as there are hopes these areas might be interested in fielding senior teams in the future."

Be fantastic additions to the league. Still think we could sustain 2 divisions of 12 teams.


As positive this is, how long will these teams last in the league? 5 years?

A lot more needs to be done to support the teams in the First, not on the field, but off it. So for me anyways, unless more is done in that sense, new teams coming into the league is not a long term solution.

[David BOHie]

As positive this is, how long will these teams last in the league? 5 years?

A lot more needs to be done to support the teams in the First, not on the field, but off it. So for me anyways, unless more is done in that sense, new teams coming into the league is not a long term solution.

Yeah I don't disagree with a word of that. Romantically, it's great. A great geographical spread of the league, brings LOI in to new places and returns to others, keeps senior football growing in that area and hopefully can produce good players for the league/senior teams in years to come.

In reality, can they do that with the current funding? Not a chance. They'd need prize money to triple and a small government grant to build a stand, changing rooms and other spectator facilities.

I think it's positive that Noel Mooney views them as having a future in the league though. I think he's optimistic and inviting them to the next meeting is a positive step.

[Mr A]

Spreading the league out could be a major plus. If you look at Lidl supporting women's GAA, they know they are reaching every corner of the country in doing so. Increasing the league's reach could help get aboard that sort of partnership to help drive the league forward.

[pineapple stu]

The thing is, it could be a major plus alright, but not while the fundamental issues of the First Division are unattended. It's unfortunately more likely to be a case that the clubs will withdraw in a few years, as pretty much every single club has done since the First Division's foundation, barring the initial intake.

[Nesta99]

That there is a very basic change in attitude is a positive for me. If these clubs, especially ones like Kildare who were in the league and dropped out, are being engaged with then the obvious flaws will be outlined in a far more vocal and together manner. Yes it all boils down to simple finances as prizemoney wont suddenly increase as needed but punitive participation fees can be dropped as a start. At least people in the FAI are talking about this stuff with clubs regardless if it goes nowhere. Maybe its a deflection away from other issues but also maybe there is less obstruction now that former personalities have stepped aside and the financial basketcase that was eeking money from anywhere (to cover credit cards et al) is out in the open!?

[Martinho II]

I was chatting to one of the underage coaches earlier in the season at CCS and I was asking him the question will Monaghan -Cavan work out if they join the league?I got the strong impression from him it wouldnt work as he was from Cavan and Monaghan would go on their own. Whether this will happen is another matter altogether.

[Kiki Balboa]

From what I understand, the surronding areas around Dundalk are going to be the focus for Dundalk FC to build its attendences, sort of becoming a regional club in the representing the North East from Drogheda northwards. That would include Monaghan, east side of Cavan, South Armagh and South Down.

Limerick and Cabinteely come from highly populated areas, and I would say they had a much better chance of becoming an established LOI team than Kerry and Mayo. Im sure if Limerick drop out, they will be back eventually. I hope Cabinteely also stick it out, but maybe its a saturated market with Bray and Rovers close (and ahem UCD)