Pablo
10/04/2002, 10:48 AM
Saint Patrick's Athletic manager Pat Dolan has revealed that he is extremely worried about the new 10-team Premier Division structure which will fall into place next season.
Dolan spent last Saturday at the Irish Cup semi-final between Coleraine and Portadown, during which he spoke to Glenavon chief executive George Ruddell.
Ruddell admitted to the Saints boss that he could not believe that the eircom League was taking this course, as the 10-team top flight has not contributed to the progression of the dying League north of the border.
"George expressed his amazement that the League down here were changing to a 10-team Premier Division. He couldn't believe they hadn't learn from the North's mistakes," Dolan wrote in his column in The Star.
"So why are we pressing ahead with change? George cannot understand it and when he gave his reasons for the failure of the 10 teams, I found them persuasive. Fans of small teams no longer have the opportunity to watch their sides in action against bigger, hungrier outfits.
"Their League, they think, has less credibility and less support. Now they are keen to change and keen to open communications with the eircom League to try and get us to learn," Dolan added. "I hope we do."
Although the clubs initially voted democratically to introduce a 10-team Premier - typically, as with summer soccer, without any market research or consultation with relevant bodies - most are now against it.
Dolan spent last Saturday at the Irish Cup semi-final between Coleraine and Portadown, during which he spoke to Glenavon chief executive George Ruddell.
Ruddell admitted to the Saints boss that he could not believe that the eircom League was taking this course, as the 10-team top flight has not contributed to the progression of the dying League north of the border.
"George expressed his amazement that the League down here were changing to a 10-team Premier Division. He couldn't believe they hadn't learn from the North's mistakes," Dolan wrote in his column in The Star.
"So why are we pressing ahead with change? George cannot understand it and when he gave his reasons for the failure of the 10 teams, I found them persuasive. Fans of small teams no longer have the opportunity to watch their sides in action against bigger, hungrier outfits.
"Their League, they think, has less credibility and less support. Now they are keen to change and keen to open communications with the eircom League to try and get us to learn," Dolan added. "I hope we do."
Although the clubs initially voted democratically to introduce a 10-team Premier - typically, as with summer soccer, without any market research or consultation with relevant bodies - most are now against it.