3 tier league

[redobit]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/soccer/john-fallon/league-of-ireland-set-for-three-tier-split-from-2021-955878.html

The League of Ireland is heading for a three-tier split format from 2021 if, as expected, clubs rubber-stamp proposals next month.
In an attempt to inject purpose into more games, the main proposal is for the top-six to breakaway after the first series of games.
The second group will be formed by the bottom four in the Premier accompanied by the top four from the First Division.


They will see out the season fighting for promotion or avoiding relegation, with the last six going into a third pot.
The proposals were yesterday presented to all 20 clubs and the Players Football Association of Ireland (PFAI) by a working group at a meeting in Dublin.
Those eight representatives from the clubs had met regularly since July, obtaining in the process crucial information from the FAI on the league’s commercial value.
It is understood the details which weren’t forthcoming under former FAI chief executive John Delaney and were eventually furnished by interim general manager Noel Mooney.
In essence, the league just about breaks even by receiving the €1.5m it costs to run the operation.

Any prospect of the League of Ireland merging with the Irish league to form an All-Island entity appears to be mothballed in the short-term. The man behind the concept, Kieran Lucid, will gather clubs from both sides to a meeting in Dundalk on October 24 but the appetite is waning.


What is more likely to emerge is a standalone Champions League-style Cup competition, similar to the Setanta Sports which ran for nine years up till 2014.
The other significant development from yesterday’s summit was overhauling the National League Executive Committee. The NLEC is the highest organ of decision-making for the league and was traditionally dominated by FAI-appointed members.
Following recommendations into FAI structures by the governance review group, clubs have now gained control of the forum.
Shamrock Rovers director Noel Byrne will serve as its first president. He is joined by Drogheda’s McArdle with Dundalk’s Martin Connolly and St Patrick’s Athletic’s Anthony Delaney also elected.
Galway United’s Peadar Ryan will represent the First Division clubs on the NLEC with the FAI’s board and senior Council both to nominate one member each who cannot have an association with a club.
The NLEC can also co-opt two external specialists to the committee, subject to the approval of the FAI board, meaning they’ll have seven of the nine members.


Mooney, due to return to Uefa next month from his seconded role with his former employers in the FAI, chaired yesterday’s gathering.
“The League of Ireland Working Group have created a tangible vision for professional football in Ireland that offers us the opportunity to deliver upon the potential of our league,” he said.
“What was clear again today is that we all want the same things - greater interest, bigger attendances, revenues and viewership figures, better facilities, youth academies, and a number of other key pillars required to achieve our ambitions.
“Notwithstanding the external discussions on an All-Island League which continues to be of interest to our clubs, the way forward is now clearer, should the clubs decide to take it.
“This really is an exciting time for the league and we must grab the opportunity with both hands.”
The working group will remain active until the new format takes off in 2021. It is believed that will appoint experts to evaluate the potential commercial worth of the FAI. Uefa have already been involved in advising on broadcast deals and the European governing body will likely sponsor the costs of engaging the specialists.

Niall Quinn and his visionary group withdrew their offer to provide assistance to the clubs.

[redobit]

Not sure what to make of this tbh.

[nr637]

Hi ALL,

This is my take on the format proposal;

So, the 10 teams in the Premier will play each team home & away for an initial 18 games. The top 6 breakaway and play each other home and away for a further 10 games making it a 28 game season.

The bottom 4 from the premier and top 4 from the first division play each other home and away for a further 14 games making it a 32 game season.

After the 10 teams in the First Division have played each team home & away for an initial 18 games, the bottom 6 in this division play each other home and away for a further 10 games making it a 28 game season.

Anyone else with their take on the format proposal?

[pineapple stu]

Certainly better than an 8-team Premier, but like all solutions before it, there's no even attempt at an explanation as to how this latest reshuffle is supposed to magically fix things.

Usual ****** from the FAI, who remain clueless despite the changes lately.

Interesting that the article says that Quinn withdrew despite earlier reports today from him saying he hadn't.

And in a major shock, the AIL is a non-runner, which makes you wonder about Lucid's credentials for being involved in the first place when he trumped something which so obviously wasn't going to happen.

[sbgawa]

So basically you lose 4 home games against the bottom 4 teams but eliminate midweek games with poor crowds.
Potentially from clubs perspectives the gate receipts might not change much. (for top 6 teams)
Also solves fixture congestion.
While all that sounds reasonable is a 28 game season to short...i think so

[sidewayspasser]

After the 10 teams in the First Division have played each team home & away for an initial 18 games, the bottom 6 in this division play each other home and away for a further 10 games making it a 28 game season.
Sounds like a lot of dead rubber, unless they manage to find something that the bottom 6 FD teams can play for. Doesn't exactly help to get people through the gates at clubs that are struggling anyway.

[D24Saint]

The whole thing sounds convoluted and like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic.

[Mr A]

I kinda like the idea TBH. Would like the winners and possibly second team of middle tier to be in playoffs for Europe though possibly with 3rd / fourth from top section.

Also a key detail is how any points from first half would translate to second half for the middle tier. If you start from nothing there could be a lot of dead rubbers heading into the mid season, potentially pretty much all of them for a team like us! On the other hand, the D1 teams would be picking up points for playing much easier teams. Tricky one to balance that properly.

[osarusan]

F**king sick of these revamps.

Us LOI fans often think that it's the non-LOI people (FAI included) who have these stupid ideas about revamping the league, but was this one from the clubs themselves? Or was this the 'Visionary group'?

[Mr A]

This apparently came from the 8 team working group.

[pineapple stu]

Why is there an 8-team working group anyway?

[EatYerGreens]

This is just more tinkering ballax from the FAI.

We all know what the league needs :

1) Better prizemoney.
2) Proper and sustained marketing.
3) Public grants to get stadia up to an appropriate standard.
4) A governing body that gives a shi'te.

This isn't rocket science. Every possible version of the League of Ireland has been tried in the past in the hope that it would somehow be a magic bullet. None of them were. The league format isn't what's holding Irish football back, so tinkering with it is not what will help it move forward. It's just a way for Noel Mooney to head back to UEFA and claim that he did something to sort out club football in Ireland. In reality he'll have achieved fcuk all, like all the other suits.

How can the numerous clubs involved in these plans not see and spell all this out ?

[Mr A]

Why is there an 8-team working group anyway?

It was agreed at the July meeting with all clubs present. The idea was to keep it to a manageable number so as to be able to progress things. I could sympathize with that as certain club reps spoke on every point and dragged pretty much every discussion off topic. I would have preferred to see all clubs involved but broke out into different areas of responsibility, but again the risk is where ever those guys are allocated are going to be run into the ditch because of the blowhards.

I must say the general standard of contribution and attitude from club reps was pretty high.

[Couch Potato]

So essentially you could be 10 points clear at the top of division one after 2 rounds of fixtures or be 7th in the premier and 10 points clear of relegation.

But once the split is done the 8 teams in the middle section will all start on 0points for a 14 game mini league to see who stays up.
Absolute madness if you ask me.

[seand]

So essentially you could be 10 points clear at the top of division one after 2 rounds of fixtures or be 7th in the premier and 10 points clear of relegation.

But once the split is done the 8 teams in the middle section will all start on 0points for a 14 game mini league to see who stays up.
Absolute madness if you ask me.

This is the thing that struck me. The middle tier is absolute ********. Either a) it doesn't matter how many points you gained in the first two series, and a team that finished 7th with 26 points starts level with the team that finished bottom with 4 points (and the team who finished 4th in the First Division!) or b) you have some weird formula to give Premier AND First Division teams points to carry over from the first half of the season. How on earth do you work the middle tier?

The third tier would be utterly grim of course, but perhaps a trophy and a half decent prize fund might retain some interest

[Mr A]

That's the key part to the whole thing IMO, how do points carry over in the middle tier?

If they don't carry and you know you are not going to make the top six, every game until the break is effectively a dead rubber. If they do carry, how do you balance a win in Dundalk versus a home win over Wexford (just picking the top and bottom sides in the league here). If a fair formula can be found somehow this idea may work.

[Mr A]

Also.. I wonder which club wasn't there. https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/clubs-negotiate-tv-rights-deals-20540600?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

[Martinho II]

I rather the AIL than the other proposal tbh.Thought the second to fifth place in playoffs in bottom division worked out well so feel sorry for the fifth placed team to miss out in this new proposal. Dont know what to make of it tbh!

[nigel-harps1954]

Here's my take.

The big downside is that there'll be no First Division champions anymore. That title meant an awful lot to Harps in 2004, Wexford in 2015, UCD last year. It's a shame to simply scrap it with a no-incentive Tier 3 First Division shield nonsense.

The points transfer really worries me too. That really has to start at 0 points again, or a ranked points system to have any degree of fairness. 4th bottom getting 8 points, 3rd bottom 6, 2nd bottom 4, and bottom team starting on 2, or something similar might work, but there'll be some sort of disparity from the word go regardless.

I really feel that the second tier needs to be given a European spot as well. You're effectively playing for nothing otherwise. The likes of Harps would really struggle to break top 6, but realistically can look at that second tier every year otherwise. You'll find Premier teams cutting cloth if they end up in the second tier, and First Division teams pushing out the boat to get up to Premier level if they end up in it. It's a dangerous game.

The First Division shield isn't an altogether terrible idea, but only if they have more of an incentive than just a token trophy that means f*ck all. The winners of that should be guaranteed a Premier Division place for the following season, or a play-off for a Premier place with whoever finishes second in the Tier 2.

Bottom team in top 6 should be in a play-off as well. Otherwise teams getting cut adrift in that leave themselves with dead rubber games very early on in that series.

The following isn't completely ideal, but would at least give almost everyone an incentive to push themselves for the whole season.

Top team: Champions League
Second place: Europa League
Third Place: Europa League playoff vs Tier 2 winner
Top 5 Premier Division following season.
6th place: Relegation Playoff v Tier 2/3 winner

Tier 2 winners: Europa League playoff vs 3rd place Tier 1
Top 4: Premier Division promotion
Tier 2 fifth place: Promotion Playoff - vs Tier 3 winners
Bottom 4: First Division

Tier 3 winners: Promotion playoff - Tier 2 fifth place: Winner plays 6th Tier 1.

[Calcio Jack]

Seems like a plan designed to reduce the league within a few years to a single division of 10 teams- as if implemented as suggested can’t see why ‘second tier’ clubs would want to put in the effort !! So a back to the future where bottom team goes for re-election and or a non league team seeks their place .

[seand]

One possible (but not ideal) way to carry over points would be to carry over the points from games played against fellow tier 2 teams and not play each other again. So (say) UCD, Harps, Cork and Waterford carry over the 6 results from games among themselves, Shels, Drogs, Longford, Cabo carry over results from their games among themselves. Everyone starts with six games on the board and 8 to come, home and away against the other 4 teams. It's far from ideal in that it undermines the league system, but this whole idea undermines the league system

[osarusan]

The more I think about it, the more I hate it.

[ThirdManRun]

This idea seems to be such a mess. If European / promotion places are being offered to clubs in tier 2 or 3 it practically incentivises poor performance in the first round of games!

How has the All-Island league been brushed aside to such a large extent? Granted the clubs up North may decide against the idea, but I can’t understand any LOI club not being 100% committed to the idea.

Is there any indication as to why the LOI clubs aren’t completely invested in the AIL or is it purely based on the fact they feel clubs up north won’t go for it?

[pineapple stu]

Seems like a plan designed to reduce the league within a few years to a single division of 10 teams- as if implemented as suggested can’t see why ‘second tier’ clubs would want to put in the effort !! So a back to the future where bottom team goes for re-election and or a non league team seeks their place .
I think UEFA don't allow a single tier structure. You have to have two divisions, with promotion/relegation between them. I think.

Ultimately though, none of what's being discussed here is remotely the main point. EatYerGreens' post is the key issues.

And remember - the FAI's stated goal with all this is to get the LoI up to 25th in the UEFA rankings by 2025

[bohsmug]

The following isn't completely ideal, but would at least give almost everyone an incentive to push themselves for the whole season.

Top team: Champions League
Second place: Europa League
Third Place: Europa League playoff vs Tier 2 winner
Top 5 Premier Division following season.
6th place: Relegation Playoff v Tier 2/3 winner

Tier 2 winners: Europa League playoff vs 3rd place Tier 1
Top 4: Premier Division promotion
Tier 2 runner-up: Promotion Playoff - vs Tier 3 winners
Bottom 4: First Division

Tier 3 winners: Promotion playoff - Tier 2 runner up: Winner plays 6th Tier 1.


Either you have yourself extremely confused or I'm not reading this correctly. You have most of the top 4 of the tier 2 qualifying for the premier division, with the exception of the 2nd placed team who have to play a playoff with tier 3 winners for some reason? Also unless my maths is bogey, you'd only be putting 9 teams in the following seasons Premier Division.

Either way I don't like this proposal.

If we were going to have Europa League playoffs, we may have to have the FAI Cup Final a few weeks before the season ends. As the winner of the cup influences the Europa league picture.

[Nesta99]

I hate the idea of (going back to) top half bottom half type system. Most of the pitfalls have already been outlined above but personally one of the most grim seasons in the years Ive been following Dundalk was finishing outside the top half after the split - I say that in the context of subsequent years in the 1st Division, re-election, and time of not being promoted on merit/not in a play-off due to tinkering with the league. Maybe there was a proper consultation process done but a bit like the change to the Summer season this seems to be happening without any evidence that it will make any difference (granted Summer football is a success imo but more good luck than good guidance). It all starts and ends on incentivising clubs and by exension hopefully fans to maintain interest. If there is a change to finances then maybe having prizemoney substantially increase upon even finishing a single position higher?! Various formats including play-offs may help and I suppose we can look to leagues where such systems works as opposed to LoI, I.L. and Scottish examples where it didnt.

But similar to chatter on invetment in clubs, just 'cause it was awful before doent mean it will again. We have sought change albeit a bit more than tinkering with numbers and midseason splits. Maybe the 28 game season for the tier 1 clubs is to allow this Setanta Cup MKII slots, the fixture carnage (due to Europe) may come to an end. Wouldnt it be great to be in a position to have a proper TV deal even if fixtures are dictated by the broadcaster in due course. I hope that a lot of what is happening is laying foundation for ongoing improvements whatever they may be.

More info is needed and the breakeven finances, possible wishful thinking, but is very neat and tidy for the FAI almost too much so. As EYG says, better funding eg prizemoney, focused investment in infrastructure where its needed most *cough*, a governing body that wants to actually grow the league and showcase the product properly and takes pride in their domestic competions is when real change will happen and until there is news on these then any league format rejigging is window dressing regardless of where the idea caame from. I'd be just as wary of going back to the days when the league ran itself as I would on FAI indifference but another hybrid ownership model might just work!

[Poor Student]

The second flight isn't quite as puzzling as it seems. You get a mini run-in before the split in the First Division to make the top four and in the Premier to avoid the top four. If you fail to stay in the top four of the second division you have no shot at the Premier Division and Europe next year and miss out on the gates from playing the big boys. Presumably being top of this might allow you to be receive a trophy and be crowned second flight winners? You couldn't attach and reward to it that a top six team wouldn't get otherwise you'd be incentivised to drop into it.

I cannot figure out for the life of me what the third flight is all about. I can't see what incentive there is to even play that one out.

[nigel-harps1954]

Either you have yourself extremely confused or I'm not reading this correctly. You have most of the top 4 of the tier 2 qualifying for the premier division, with the exception of the 2nd placed team who have to play a playoff with tier 3 winners for some reason? Also unless my maths is bogey, you'd only be putting 9 teams in the following seasons Premier Division.

Either way I don't like this proposal.

If we were going to have Europa League playoffs, we may have to have the FAI Cup Final a few weeks before the season ends. As the winner of the cup influences the Europa league picture.

I did get myself confused. That was meant to be Tier 2 fifth place and not runners-up in a play-off.

Just tried to throw in some sort of equation to the mix that would maximise meaningful games.

Otherwise, the way I see it, it's the top teams who want this, and the rest is nonsense.

[bohsmug]

I'd be just as wary of going back to the days when the league ran itself

That's an important point.

[total hoofball]

Otherwise, the way I see it, it's the top teams who want this, and the rest is nonsense.
I don't even see why the current top teams would want this. What if things went tits up on the field with Dundalk or Rovers and they slump into a 2nd half of the season playing in a league with Cobh or Cabinteely, good luck with your projected gate receipts and sponsorship deals to pay 20k+ per week wage bill

I have seen all too many utterly stupid actions, ideas, proposals in over 20 years following the LOI but this new structure is taking the pi$$ and will be the final nail in the coffin for the LOI

[marinobohs]

The whole thing sounds convoluted and like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic.
This. Another example of the Abbotstown idiots trying to "do something" about LOI (or at least be seen to try)

[Nesta99]

This. Another example of the Abbotstown idiots trying to "do something" about LOI (or at least be seen to try)

In fairness this seems more club driven than FAI. Last night there were reports that an 8 team league was favoured by clubs and today there have been multiple conflicting reports on whats possible. One being that a club rep has said that they are a good bit away from finalising things. 2020 will remain as is so there is room for further consultation and decisions. The FAI say Nial Quinn has withdrawn offered supports but he himself has said thats not the case. So are journalists jumping the gun, speculating or are different clubs hearing what they want to hear at these meetings - driving their own personal agendas that hamstrung the leagues admin of the league in the past. Couple that with the FAIs penchant for spinning things eg dismissing the Quinn angle.

Next step is to see what Lucid's crowd have put together but to turn IL heads there will have to be a significant pot of cash already confirmed for that project if it is to gain traction. From a purely selfish point of view if there is to be a new cross border competition with the money involved that was there for the early Setanta Cup years then it's a feasible stepping stone. The biggest indication on the intent of the IL is if the even slightly adjust their calender for an earlier/later start to their season. Again possibly laying some ground work to ease things for any future transition. It's what I am tenuously hoping that the above proposals are for in having clubs batched on merit for future admittance to all island competitions with 'regional' tiers below competing for access. Certainly none of this cherry picking clubs on who they think might offer more or less to a new division as that was a mess and not just cause I'm a Dundalk fan and we lost out, and would have been excluded if the cross border plans being driven by Drogheda United at the time had kicked on. It was a closed shop system initially proposed too. Reading about decisions still well up for discussion has added to my hopes that this is all a more thoroughly thought through changing things up - and will be backed by more money and tv deal et al. In other words not been as hastily pushed as initially seemed.

[Mr_Parker]

Is there any indication as to why the LOI clubs aren’t completely invested in the AIL or is it purely based on the fact they feel clubs up north won’t go for it?
Possibly because, like for the club's in the North, there is little, if any, substance to the AIL proposal. Lots of words, video promos, pushing forward ex players (players who wouldn't have the first notion of what it takes to run a football club), and spinning finances and statistics to make it look attractive. Club's don't want or need the gloss. They want the cold hard facts, ie "show me the money" that supports this deal. They also need to see the built in security and where the risk lies. From the little that is out there, the risk seems to be to the clubs themselves and not Lucid. It appears to be built on a potential TV deal. But we all know, like Setanta, such deals can disappear very quickly and then who is left holding the can.

Expect lots more PR spin in the coming weeks in the lead up to the 24th October presentation, with the press regurgitating press releases without doing any investigative journalism on them and more pr videos.

[seand]

Regarding all-Ireland league the very first essential commitment that I'd require is a cast-iron guarantee from UEFA that we'd keep the 8 European places (one more than England and Spain!!!) that Lucid seems to think is feasible. If that were possible then anything is possible. If it's not possible then you've a massive problem replacing that incentive and income (especially north of the border).

The reunification of Ireland may simplify things ;-)

[nr637]

After the first series of games whats the point of the last six in the first division playing on, the top four positions are the only places worth fighting for at the start. The remaining six are only playing for positions 5th to 10th with no relegation and I doubt there is going to be much of a financial incentive to be 10th or 9th!

[NeverFeltBetter]

LOI needs more teams, and for that needs to be a more attractive prospect. The investment to do that isn't forthcoming, so we get this unnecessary face-lift, just the latest in a long line of unnecessary face-lifts. It won't improve the league.

Id wager Limerick were the odd one out. With the state we're in we shouldn't get a say anyway.

[ltfc_2004]

For the Tier 2 teams could they offer the winner one of the Scottish Challenge cup spots and maybe the top 2 into some kind of preliminary Setanta cup round as an incentive if they didn't offer a European playoff and similar for Tier 3 give the winners a Scottish challenge cup spot. Of course there are no guarantees that the SCC will continue to invite LOI reps.

[EatYerGreens]

Regarding all-Ireland league the very first essential commitment that I'd require is a cast-iron guarantee from UEFA that we'd keep the 8 European places (one more than England and Spain!!!) that Lucid seems to think is feasible. If that were possible then anything is possible. If it's not possible then you've a massive problem replacing that incentive and income (especially north of the border).

That'd be some achievement, given that the combined European places for the island is now only 7 :p

[oriel]

Possibly because, like for the club's in the North, there is little, if any, substance to the AIL proposal. Lots of words, video promos, pushing forward ex players (players who wouldn't have the first notion of what it takes to run a football club), and spinning finances and statistics to make it look attractive. Club's don't want or need the gloss. They want the cold hard facts, ie "show me the money" that supports this deal. They also need to see the built in security and where the risk lies. From the little that is out there, the risk seems to be to the clubs themselves and not Lucid. It appears to be built on a potential TV deal. But we all know, like Setanta, such deals can disappear very quickly and then who is left holding the can.

Expect lots more PR spin in the coming weeks in the lead up to the 24th October presentation, with the press regurgitating press releases without doing any investigative journalism on them and more pr videos.

If the AIL ever happened, a huge issue would be what day / time for matches. There is no way LOI clubs will go for 3pm on a Sat, and not sure IL clubs would go for Friday nights, so what is the solution?

The 3pm Sat ko is obv suiting most of IL clubs as their players work Mon- Fri, prob train Tues and Thurs nights, could some go full time training in the am?

Back to the KO time though, Sat tea time / evening?

[seand]

That'd be some achievement, given that the combined European places for the island is now only 7 :p

NI will be back up to 4 for 2021-22 I believe

[nigel-harps1954]

Suggesting that this amalgamated league would retain 7/8 European spaces is second only to Delaneys 33rd team lark in the ridiculous stakes.

[EatYerGreens]

If the AIL ever happened, a huge issue would be what day / time for matches. There is no way LOI clubs will go for 3pm on a Sat, and not sure IL clubs would go for Friday nights, so what is the solution?

The 3pm Sat ko is obv suiting most of IL clubs as their players work Mon- Fri, prob train Tues and Thurs nights, could some go full time training in the am?

Back to the KO time though, Sat tea time / evening?

We're told that one of the big benefits of an all-island league would be a big TV broadcaster coming on board and paying for rights.

They would no doubt look to broadcast at least one gap a week - if not more.

In which case, there almost certainly wouldn't be a single uniform KO time for all games anyway, as TV schedules would influence it.

Some IL clubs currently play on a Friday night already - either for TV or out of preference.

Also - we manage to run the LOI with different clubs preferring different days for matches, and it's not been a big deal.

[redobit]

When the FAI and clubs sat down and dreamt up this 3 tier split there is one question nobody asked ... what do the fans want?

Seen a poll on Domestic Ireland twitter and its 87% in favour of keeping the current format versus a split.

Change for change sake as usual.

[Nesta99]

We're told that one of the big benefits of an all-island league would be a big TV broadcaster coming on board and paying for rights.

They would no doubt look to broadcast at least one gap a week - if not more.

In which case, there almost certainly wouldn't be a single uniform KO time for all games anyway, as TV schedules would influence it.

Some IL clubs currently play on a Friday night already - either for TV or out of preference.

Also - we manage to run the LOI with different clubs preferring different days for matches, and it's not been a big deal.

If this ever comes to pass the financial aspect will likely have clubs willing to move traditional game slots. Sundays are out for some IL clubs but with some proper planning on fixtures scheduling these issues can be overcome. Most LoI clubs play Fridays, we have also had a batch of midweek games. Sligo usually play Saturday evenings, IL clubs mainly play Saturdays - it could be a spread of fixtures that actually gives a broadcaster plenty of scope.

[seand]

Whatever about LoI and IL teams generally playing at different times over the weekend, there's also the small matter of the two league playing on entirely different calendars.

[pineapple stu]

Bit of flexible thinking will sort that.

You run a 12-month season starting in Jul and ending in Jun. Jul-Oct is IL v LoI games. Nov-Feb is IL v IL only. Mar-Jun is LoI v LoI only. Sorted!

[Real ale Madrid]

Suggesting that this amalgamated league would retain 7/8 European spaces is second only to Delaneys 33rd team lark in the ridiculous stakes.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, unlikely yes - but for example in Canada they run a seperate qualfication tournament for their CONCACAF representative as thier teams play in MLS - so there is precedent for both countries to keep both Champions League spots if the leagues merge. The Champions league spot is the big money one.

[sbgawa]

Not strictly topic related but if you want to see the dangers of any team not making a top 6 cut have a look at some of the points totals comparing this season and last season
2 games left for all bar Pats and Derry in 2019 (they have 3)

.................................................. .............2019 ................2018




Dundalk
83
87


Rovers
69
62


Bohs
56
48


Derry
51
42


Pats
48
50


Sligo
42
42


Waterford
40
59


Cork
34
77

[ThirdManRun]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/ewan-mackenna-lucid-dreams-irelands-200m-deficit-and-an-ambitious-plan-to-save-irish-football-38585265.html

Excellent explainer of the All-Island League plan here. Hard to say it lacks detailed research, just a case of having the funds to back it up and make it viable!

[D24Saint]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/ewan-mackenna-lucid-dreams-irelands-200m-deficit-and-an-ambitious-plan-to-save-irish-football-38585265.html

Excellent explainer of the All-Island League plan here. Hard to say it lacks detailed research, just a case of having the funds to back it up and make it viable!

Paywall what was the gist.