Shamrock Rovers entering a team in Div 1 next season

[outspoken]

Johnny Ward has tweeted to say as far as he knows Limerick didn't apply in the end and the first fixtures released will be the official ones with rovers B included. If that's the case it's over to longford town to decide whether they set the tone and boycott or whether the clubs just roll over and accept it

[Longfordian]

I'm going to say they'll do the latter when push comes to shove. Why risk a points deduction which could harm their promotion chances when there's no guarantee the other teams will follow suit? Personally I think the "insult" is overblown. I wouldn't like to see half the division made up of second teams though.

[Bunny Kelly]

I'd say after all the uncertainty & problems behind the scenes everyone just wants to get season underway & put this behind them

[Zenith]

Athlone in trouble too, according to a reply to Ward's tweet.

[outspoken]

Athlone in trouble too, according to a reply to Ward's tweet.

Seen that but ward claims the ATFC manager informed him they have got a license. Public meeting in athlone tonight and reading the comments there's a lot of cynics who feels it may be an excuse to pull out of senior football.

[sbgawa]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Cabo pull out using this as a smoke screen, it has been a failed experiment.
The BS going on with clubs in the first division scrambling to get licences really does make the claims from the likes of Cabo that the leagues integrity is at stake over allowing Rovers B in really is comical

[outspoken]

Just scrap it and promote Longford imo

[Martinho II]

Saw article somewhere with Cabo they nearly merged with some team altogether and were going to pull out. Wonder was it Bray considering Pat Devlins connections?

[nigel-harps1954]

First Division going ahead as originally scheduled.


Following the work undertaken by the Independent Club Licensing Committee and the Independent Appeals Committee, the FAI can confirm that all applicants have been awarded licences for the 2020 SSE Airtricity League season, as follows: -

PREMIER DIVISION

Bohemian FC, Cork City, Derry City, Dundalk, Finn Harps, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Sligo Rovers, St. Patrick’s Athletic, Waterford FC.

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers, Cabinteely, Cobh Ramblers, Drogheda United, Galway United, Longford Town, Shamrock Rovers II, UCD AFC, Wexford FC.

[sidewayspasser]

"all applicants"
That seems to confirm that Limerick didn't apply in the end.

[Trainee]

"all applicants"
That seems to confirm that Limerick didn't apply in the end.

Looks like POS plan was to get limerick/treaty utd to withdraw, get a license & sell them his license. When they withdrew & refused to have anything to do with him, his license became worthless so he didn't apply

[outspoken]

Looks like POS plan was to get limerick/treaty utd to withdraw, get a license & sell them his license. When they withdrew & refused to have anything to do with him, his license became worthless so he didn't apply

Or just the fact he hasn't any manager, players or home ground and hasn't a pot to pish in.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Probably the above.

Please God can POS' Limerick just die?

[sbgawa]

Has POS entered an underage team?

[Trainee]

Has POS entered an underage team?

He wants to maintain a club presence in the underage leagues and will seek clarity from the NLEC tomorrow.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

First Division going ahead as originally scheduled.

Did no one from FD receive a licence that would cover them for the PD? Usually they’d announce about 15 PD licences

[Martinho II]

Did no one from FD receive a licence that would cover them for the PD? Usually they’d announce about 15 PD licences

I dont think so. We only got a FD Licence ourselves as Daire Doyle is not fully qualified to be a coach yet.

[Bunny Kelly]

Any word on the restrictions being put on rovers B or do we wait until Saturday evening & see if half the First team squad are playing?

[sbgawa]

I'm assuming there has been some compromise at this stage.
Strange it hasnt been announced

[Ezeikial]

Any word on the restrictions being put on rovers B or do we wait until Saturday evening & see if half the First team squad are playing?

Please don't exaggerate, Bunny! The original rules suggestion was that they could field 4 first team players in the starting 11 - that's just over 35%.

If they have a premier division first team squad of about 24 players, sure it would take a whole 3 matches before they would reach the 50% mark you mention.

Does any other national league in the world have a game by game loan system like this?

[Zenith]

I'm assuming there has been some compromise at this stage.
Strange it hasnt been announced

Along with any of the underage or women's fixtures. I can only imagine the chaos the place must be in.

[sbgawa]

Rovers are playing Cork on Friday and Waterford on Monday.
If there are any first team players in the squad on Saturday i would be amazed.
This has always been about the Academy player development , the overage players will be minimal IMO but Rovers are entitled to have the outlet for occasional use.
That's what the rules were.

[Bunny Kelly]

More curious for on going basis what the rule is, obviously less likely to have senior players when games on a Monday.

I wonder would they have some older players just for the B team to give them some experience, Richie Purdy & Sean Heaney played with the B's before & haven't signed up with anyone

[outspoken]

I'm assuming there has been some compromise at this stage.
Strange it hasnt been announced

Lol, it's doubtful rovers squad will even be in the match programme because as of last night there was no confirmation of their set up for this season. Laughable.

[Mr A]

Longford intend to play the fixture then?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

All this would've been an awful lot easier if first division clubs were reasonable to start with and didn't just stomp their feet and say "no, under no conditions" when we now clearly know that there are conditions that it's acceptable to them under. Them being that it's an u21 team.

[Ezeikial]

Rovers are playing Cork on Friday and Waterford on Monday.
If there are any first team players in the squad on Saturday i would be amazed.
This has always been about the Academy player development , the overage players will be minimal IMO but Rovers are entitled to have the outlet for occasional use.
That's what the rules were.

Is there any clarification on these rules?

Up to 4 players from the premier division squad for each and every match is hardly 'occasional use'

The notion of 'overage players' is a little bizarre and maybe a red herring- surely the problem is not the age of any player but that up to 4 players are allowed to switch over and back between the two divisions each matchday.

[outspoken]

Longford intend to play the fixture then?

This is a big problem now. Every post the club put up is full of comments asking if we are boycotting, the club probably should make some sort of statement that isn't a statement if that makes sense because I can see the gate being very small otherwise.

[Martinho II]

I for one think the game will go ahead as our supporters club have their AGM tonight and we are introducing a new initiative for ex town players to be introduced to crowd at HT and an interview taking place in the clubhouse after the game. Dessie Baker will be the first person to be interviewed for 15 mins after the game this saturday. All mgt and players are coming in also afterwards too. There was no mention of boycott in minutes of Supporters Club whatapp I saw.

I think this is Daire Doyles idea which is superb as will generate lot of interest.

[NeverFeltBetter]

If they were still planning to boycott there would surely be a bit more noise about it.

[outspoken]

I for one think the game will go ahead as our supporters club have their AGM tonight and we are introducing a new initiative for ex town players to be introduced to crowd at HT and an interview taking place in the clubhouse after the game. Dessie Baker will be the first person to be interviewed for 15 mins after the game this saturday. All mgt and players are coming in also afterwards too. There was no mention of boycott in minutes of Supporters Club whatapp I saw.

I think this is Daire Doyles idea which is superb as will generate lot of interest.

There's no boycott can we stop mentioning it now as it's going to damage the attendance.

[sbgawa]

In fairness longford could actually come out and say that then people would stop asking.

[outspoken]

In fairness longford could actually come out and say that then people would stop asking.

Probably don't want to step on the FAI's toes with anymore statements. Surely the fact the club are advertising the game should be enough clue for people?

Looking unlikely we'll have a game anyway, pitch is currently unplayable and a flood warning in place for the county.

[Longfordian]

Statement issuing tomorrow morning apparently.

[colonelwest]

Johnny Ward on Twitter this evening saying he's heard rumblings of a third tier from next season with Rovers B, other LOI B teams and I can only assume a few junior clubs stepping up!

[The Lilywhites]

Statement issuing tomorrow morning apparently.

What's that about, confirming they'll play the game?

[Longfordian]

Presumably. I genuinely have no idea but Daire Doyle was on the Between The Stripes podcast this week and was preparing for the game as normal and encouraging everyone to come out. There will probably be some sort of "we're doing this under protest" element to the statement.

[total hoofball]

Neil O'Riordan in The Sun yesterday suggested that Longford said they will not be fulfilling the fixture, though I would have thought if there is a joint boycott between the 9 teams it wouldn't be just one club announcing it

[Longfordian]

Maybe the statement will be on behalf of the First Division Alliance. I seem to recall LTFC being the first to post their original statement. The weather may intervene anyway as outspoken pointed out.

[Asterix]

Neil O'Riordan tweeted this..

First Division clubs will issue a statement tomorrow confirming they will play Shamrock Rovers II under protest this season and for this season only.Rovers will be allowed field one outfield and one keeper from their A squad in addition to stated u21 squad.

[Kiki Balboa]

Neil O'Riordan tweeted this..

First Division clubs will issue a statement tomorrow confirming they will play Shamrock Rovers II under protest this season and for this season only.Rovers will be allowed field one outfield and one keeper from their A squad in addition to stated u21 squad.

This is a joke and makes an absoulte mockery of both competitions.

Why do Rovers have an advantage over every team in the Premier to keep players match fit?

Does this mean u21 players can play for both throughout the year?

How is it fair that different First Division teams will face different squads (Alan Mannus and Jack Byrne may play against one team for one game and deny them the title for example).



If you are going to II teams, do it right, players should only be able to move between squads in Transfer windows, end of.

[outspoken]

This is a joke and makes an absoulte mockery of both competitions.

Why do Rovers have an advantage over every team in the Premier to keep players match fit?

Does this mean u21 players can play for both throughout the year?

How is it fair that different First Division teams will face different squads (Alan Mannus and Jack Byrne may play against one team for one game and deny them the title for example).



If you are going to II teams, do it right, players should only be able to move between squads in Transfer windows, end of.

Exactly and the fact they are only allowing 2 players is almost an indication they know it's wrong but they want to keep Rovers happy too and probably promised them 3 or 4 overage players at the start

[The Lilywhites]

The First Division clubs should have had some balls then instead of just making idle threats. They were always going to play Rovers.

[Kiki Balboa]

The First Division clubs should have had some balls then instead of just making idle threats. They were always going to play Rovers.

What if 7 of them do, But one or two dont , and it ends up deciding the play off spots ??

The clubs, who are also in competition with each other, simply should not be put into this position. Thats why you have an indpendent organisation (The Fai ) to create and enforce (fair )rules.


Rovers II are not a second team, but a reserve team. Reserve teams should not be in the first, especially against the other clubs wishes. This is a Senior league and should be treated as such.

Also, shows Rovers arrogence to the rest of the league to just power on through with this. Why are the fai trying to keep them happy ?

[sulywaterfordfc]

What if 7 of them do, But one or two dont , and it ends up deciding the play off spots ??

The clubs, who are also in competition with each other, simply should not be put into this position. Thats why you have an indpendent organisation (The Fai ) to create and enforce (fair )rules.


Rovers II are not a second team, but a reserve team. Reserve teams should not be in the first, especially against the other clubs wishes. This is a Senior league and should be treated as such.

Also, shows Rovers arrogence to the rest of the league to just power on through with this. Why are the fai trying to keep them happy ?

Some big European leagues have reserve teams playing within their national league system. Not sure what the fuss with Rovers B is. 10 team league with the fixture layout is far better then what the first division suggested. A 9 part time team league needing 36 games weeks to complete the regular season was never going to work.

Anyhow by all accounts the FAI are exploring the idea of reintroducing the A Championship from next season onwards.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Can everyone not grow the **** up already.

A 9 team league would be ridiculous. Rovers II is the only realistic way to make it a 10 team league.
Rovers aren't going to be playing ****ing Mannus and Byrne so that ****ing Longford don't win the division or some ****e if you think that's going to happen give your head a shake. And **** off with this "to keep rovers happy ****e" Rovers were the ones that offered to keep the team as an u21 team as a compromise, not the other way round.

It may be a senior league but what's the alternative? A 9 team league with the possibility of teams going weeks with no home game? Aka no income? Rovers II will bring crowds as big as any other, play good football, provide good facilities, and wont cause any unwanted headlines. The same cannot be said for the majority of first division clubs.

Anyone who has a problem with Rovers II needs a ****ing reality check cause there's absolutely no problem with it.

As for suggestion of Rovers arrogance, **** off with that, if there was a single reasonable argument against Rovers II you might have a point but there isn't so you dont

[sbgawa]

100%.
This unfairness BS and whinging about rovers being allowed play first team players is hilarious.
the b team rules are in the particpation agreement that every club signs up to and haven't changed since 2013.
Any club that wanted to could avail of them.
Rovers putting a pathway in for the academy players should be applauded.

[Longfordian]

Based on last time they won't bring any crowds but in fairness away support isn't generally a significant factor in the First overall. From a selfish point of view another Dublin fixture suits me.

[placid casual]

Just sit down and do what you're told.🧐

[Yossarian]

Whatever about the merits of the argument, the arrogance of some Rovers fans here is telling. Seems to me that everyone should eff off and let Rovers do whatever they want.

I have no problem with a Rovers academy team (or any other) playing in the first division so that there is an even number of teams. The only issue I have is that it should be a set squad for the season with no movement between the first and second teams outside of the transfer window. And just because Rovers may not be planning to play Byrne or Mannus, the option is there for them to play either of them or any other player if they wish.