League of Ireland Structure

[gufcfan]

I’d be interested to hear people’s views on this…

I think that a proper structure in this country should exist regarding divisions.
What I mean by this is that, a clear line could be drawn from a club in the lowest tier of football in the country, to the Eircom Premier.

We obviously don't have sufficient population to sustain very many professional clubs, but I think that football in this country would benefit from having such a structure. Now that we have added a 3rd tier of sorts, to the national league structure I felt it a good time to debate the subject.

What I suggest is that perhaps, clubs outside of the current EL structure could be offered a place in the A league every season. I use the word "offered". Not every club that wins their regional or county league would have the desire or the finances to compete in a national competition. In these instances, it would be prudent for many either to decline or be 100% sure they are capable of survival.

Now that the FAI seem to be tightening up their control and scrutiny of clubs in the league, maybe the timing will soon be right to improve or at least alter, the league system.

They seem to change around the Eircom League every other season, so why not give the lesser local clubs the chance to rise up through the ranks, or at least the belief that they can do so.

For example, England has a 24-tier league structure. Obviously England has more than 10 times the population of the Republic. This is reflected in the fact that the League of Ireland structure only has 2 tiers, perhaps 3 if you were to count the A league. 22 clubs and 2 A league sides.

The first 11 tiers and the English structure have 1,600 or 1,700 teams. You can double that for the total amount of clubs in the structure. You then arrive at a rather conservative figure of roughly 3,000 clubs. All capable of reaching the top tier, in theory of course. A tenth of that would be 300. Does Ireland have 300 clubs in its structure? 200? 100? 50? 25? Obviously there are more clubs in Ireland than the 25 in the EL, but I believe the current system is stunting the growth of clubs outside it. One of the factors that contributes to the success of the English game as a whole, is that every team can make it, in theory.

Soccer's major competitor on a local level all over this country is GAA, but take a look at their structure for a moment. The main focus of all these clubs seems to be the Senior County Championship. Every club in the country has a chance to compete in this. Clubs in the Intermediate and Junior levels can all, in theory, be promoted to the Senior grade. Teams competing in the their Senior County Championship have the possibility of playing on the provincial or national stage, at a senior level.

Irish soccer clubs below the elite of the Eircom League don't have that chance, apart from the odd appearance in the FAI Cup. And believe me, I use "elite" for the want of a better word. I don’t believe that there should be any huge changes as such, but a play-off system or proper provincial leagues countywide are what I have in mind.
As far as provincial leagues go, the existing ones tend to be concentrated in Dublin and Cork respectively. No provincial league exists in Connacht currently, although there was a meeting discussing the matter before Christmas, although I know nothing about it other than that. I would favour a system where the champions of each respective province, were invited into the A league. That would give a new perspective to these leagues. I know nothing about the LSL or the MSL, but I’m sure that teams in Connacht would like a crack at the provincial and national stage. MSL teams would benefit from it also, as we all know that they are better than everybody else anyway.

Does any of this make sense to anyone else?

Send you comments to icouldcarelesswhatyeethink@gmail.com

[GavinZac]

Didnt we have this thread last week?

[gufcfan]

If we did, I didn't see it. Sorry, i'll have a look...

[GavinZac]

It may have been the All-Ireland one I'm thinking of. Still, a lot of your ideas would fit, and indeed were discussed, in that thread. I fully agree with you, of course.

[sullanefc]

I know nothing about the LSL or the MSL, but I’m sure that teams in Connacht would like a crack at the provincial and national stage. MSL teams would benefit from it also, as we all know that they are better than everybody else anyway.


Although there is a thread on this every other week here, they always stir interest.

In my opinion, you could go 2 ways with it.

1. Have the eircom League as a closed shop league (as it is currently) and only invite teams in that can add something to the league. If you are going to do this and you want a more even spread geographically, then you would invite representative teams from the non participating counties to join the A Championship. Kerry League, mayo league etc. To compare it to the GAA, this would be like the inter-county championships and would be more like a franchise system.

or

2. You could place the LSL and MSL leagues directly below the A championship with guaranteed promotion from these leagues. The problem with this IMO, is that by sheer volume of numbers (good players) there would probably be a lot of Dublin teams getting promoted which would further imbalance the league geographically. (People think there are enough Dublin clubs as it is).

IMO, any league put in place below the first division should be regionalised. A 3rd national tier is not financially feasable for clubs. As it stands, its not financially feasable for some 1st div clubs e.g. Kilkenny.

[gufcfan]

In my opinion, you could go 2 ways with it.

I agree


...invite representative teams from the non participating counties to join the A Championship. Kerry League, mayo league etc... ...would be more like a franchise system.

Again, I can't fault that logic. You mentioned "franchise" and the GAA County Championship. I think an idea somewhere along the lines of, each county having at least 1 representative at Senior provincial level, with teams finishing in the lower places being relegated back to their own district league and being replaced by the the champions of the latter.


IMO, any league put in place below the first division should be regionalised. A 3rd national tier is not financially feasable for clubs. As it stands, its not financially feasable for some 1st div clubs e.g. Kilkenny.

Couldn't agree more. But a clear structure where progression is possible is needed IMO.


(People think there are enough Dublin clubs as it is).

I am one of them. Kilkenny being replaced by another club was a disaster on two fronts. The folding of another club due to money trouble, and yet another Dublin club joining the league.

[osarusan]

I agree with a fair amount of what you say.

Some disagreements though.


The first 11 tiers and the English structure have 1,600 or 1,700 teams. You can double that for the total amount of clubs in the structure. You then arrive at a rather conservative figure of roughly 3,000 clubs. All capable of reaching the top tier, in theory of course. A tenth of that would be 300. Does Ireland have 300 clubs in its structure? 200? 100? 50? 25? Obviously there are more clubs in Ireland than the 25 in the EL, but I believe the current system is stunting the growth of clubs outside it. One of the factors that contributes to the success of the English game as a whole, is that every team can make it, in theory.
The main reason that we cont compare to English football in terms of clubs per population is, I believe, because the fans don't want to watch local football. GAA and live Premier League on TV being 2 main reasons.


I think an idea somewhere along the lines of, each county having at least 1 representative at Senior provincial level, with teams finishing in the lower places being relegated back to their own district league and being replaced by the the champions of the latter.

That might lead to some teams never getting a chance though. Say for example the Dublin or Cork team never finishes in the relegation zone (not unlikely given the population centres and amount of footballing talent). The champions of the district league would have very little to play for (apart from wanting to win the district league itself, obviously) because they would be aware that they won't get a place in the next league anyway.

You'd end up with a club from, say.... Leitrim, finishing bottom, and being replaced by the Leitrim district league champions, while far superior clubs from Cork or Dublin can't get into the league.

[sullanefc]

Again, I can't fault that logic. You mentioned "franchise" and the GAA County Championship. I think an idea somewhere along the lines of, each county having at least 1 representative at Senior provincial level, with teams finishing in the lower places being relegated back to their own district league and being replaced by the the champions of the latter.



That might lead to some teams never getting a chance though. Say for example the Dublin or Cork team never finishes in the relegation zone (not unlikely given the population centres and amount of footballing talent). The champions of the district league would have very little to play for (apart from wanting to win the district league itself, obviously) because they would be aware that they won't get a place in the next league anyway.

You'd end up with a club from, say.... Leitrim, finishing bottom, and being replaced by the Leitrim district league champions, while far superior clubs from Cork or Dublin can't get into the league.

I think ye have misunderstood what I meant by representative teams.

I mean these teams would be made up of the best players in their respective leagues. So they couldn't get relegated as all their team would be made up of the best players in their league. They could still play for their clubs and still get a call up to the county team.

For example: If it was a kerry team, it would be make up of some players from Tralee, some from Killarney etc. So kerry could not be relegated into the Kerry league if you know what I mean?? It would be a closed shop franchise system, which seems to be a dirty word with a lot of football fans, but it should be considered.

[gufcfan]

I think ye have misunderstood what I meant by representative teams.

I mean these teams would be made up of the best players in their respective leagues. So they couldn't get relegated as all their team would be made up of the best players in their league. They could still play for their clubs and still get a call up to the county team.

For example: If it was a kerry team, it would be make up of some players from Tralee, some from Killarney etc. So kerry could not be relegated into the Kerry league if you know what I mean??

Maybe we did miss the point of what you were proposing, but in any case I would agree that the lesser counties would never survive in a provincial league unless they were representative teams. This would give any new prospective EL club emerging out of league the best chance possible. Having the pick of the players from a league rather than the champions of it makes a huge difference. Not least the standard of football. I'd actually go to see matches in a Connacht Senior League involving Galway & DL if it were to be ressurrected. The stadium for them is already there. Terryland Park belongs to the Galway FA.

Giving our Junior players the chance to play at the highest level possible can only benefit the sport. It gives the best players in the junior league a better chance of developing into EL players

Gets a thumbs up from me anyways.


It would be a closed shop franchise system, which seems to be a dirty word with a lot of football fans, but it should be considered.

It is a dirty word and shall not be uttered here anymore...


You'd end up with a club from, say.... Leitrim, finishing bottom, and being replaced by the Leitrim district league champions,

Leitrim dont have a DL. AFAIK it is a combined league called the Sligo/Leitrim DL

[pete]

I did not understand the reason for the A Championship initially but it makes sense now.

- It prepares teams for the 1st division.
- Allows relegated 1st division teams to get themselves promoted.
- Ensures teams joining the 1st division have better structures.

[gufcfan]

I did not understand the reason for the A Championship initially but it makes sense now.

- It prepares teams for the 1st division.
- Allows relegated 1st division teams to get themselves promoted.
- Ensures teams joining the 1st division have better structures.

Yes, and the whole point I was trying to get at as regards the junior clubs is that a structure needs to be in place so that they too are strong enough to compete in the A league.

[jebus]

Personally I'd have a 16 team Premier league team with two relegation spots, one automatic, one to be decided by playoff. Underneath that I'd scrap the current First Division and have two 10 team leagues, one being akin to the LSL, the other including Munster and Connaught teams. The winners of both these leagues would enter a playoff with the winner getting the automatic sopot and the loser entering a playoff with second bottom of the Premier. I would keep entry requirements, if neither of the teams can meet the entry requirements then the relegated Premier teams keep their spot

[Rovers fan]

Personally I'd have a 16 team Premier league team with two relegation spots, one automatic, one to be decided by playoff.

Is that because its L37's only hope of getting promoted?!

[jebus]

Is that because its L37's only hope of getting promoted?!

Nail on head :D

Pending on our DVD presentation of course

[gufcfan]

Nail on head :D

Pending on our DVD presentation of course

I'd stop right there with the Galway jokes coz we'll be down to get ye on Friday!

If you can get someone that'll let you lot play ball on their field for a few hours that is.

[dcfcsteve]

I did not understand the reason for the A Championship initially but it makes sense now.

- It prepares teams for the 1st division.
- Allows relegated 1st division teams to get themselves promoted.
- Ensures teams joining the 1st division have better structures.

Given that throughout the entire history of the League of Ireland, there has never been a period of more than 4 consecutive seasons without some sort of change in the names and/or composition of the clubs that make-up the league, I strongly suspect the A league concept is driven almost entirely by a desire to have an adequately prepared pool of 'reserve' clubs to fill the gaps in the senior divisions that inevitably arise (e.g. Kilkenny City, Dublin City).

If it fulfills that task alone, then it will have been an extremely positive development for domestic football IMO. No more last minute scrabbling to plug a gap with teams that invariably turn-out to be woefully ill-prepared for the senior game.

[jebus]

I'd stop right there with the Galway jokes coz we'll be down to get ye on Friday!

If you can get someone that'll let you lot play ball on their field for a few hours that is.

Calm down, I'm paying Galway a compliment here, I fully endorse the 'can't do it on the pitch? Hire a robbing piece of trash as your commercial manager and let him schmooze your way to the big boy table'. I'm hoping our Yank has the same creditentials as your boy is all

[gufcfan]

Calm down, I'm paying Galway a compliment here, I fully endorse the 'can't do it on the pitch? Hire a robbing piece of trash as your commercial manager and let him schmooze your way to the big boy table'. I'm hoping our Yank has the same creditentials as your boy is all

Ara calm down yerself, I was only messin. And btw, our "robbin piece of trash" has overseen a big increase in revenue since his arrival. I'm not saying it was all his doing or anything of a sort, but he had a big hand in it. Despite his persona, he has a very good head on him.

[galwayhoop]

Personally I'd have a 16 team Premier league team with two relegation spots, one automatic, one to be decided by playoff. Underneath that I'd scrap the current First Division and have two 10 team leagues, one being akin to the LSL, the other including Munster and Connaught teams. The winners of both these leagues would enter a playoff with the winner getting the automatic sopot and the loser entering a playoff with second bottom of the Premier. I would keep entry requirements, if neither of the teams can meet the entry requirements then the relegated Premier teams keep their spot

there is merit to this but i'd reckon that the teams who get promoted into the top division may be somewhat under prepared for the standard. the two regional leagues you talk of would obviously be amateur and part-time. the jump would be massive.

the league would then really become a battle for honours between 2 or 3 clubs and a battle to avoid relegation by another 3 or 4 and these would more than likely be the recently promoted teams. that would mean approximately 10 teams would survive in the tedium of mid table with little to play for season after season.

imo an AIL is really the only way that we can sustain 2 or 3 divisions of well run and well supported teams in this country.

[Schumi]

There isn't enough quality in the league to have 16 competitive teams in a premier division. If an AIL were to happen, a larger premier division would be the way to go IMO, playing teams 3 or 4 times a season is too much.

[galwayhoop]

There isn't enough quality in the league to have 16 competitive teams in a premier division. If an AIL were to happen, a larger premier division would be the way to go IMO, playing teams 3 or 4 times a season is too much.

agree. but....

12 team playing each other 3 times, 33 games would be ideal. could really see the standard lifting from that.

it would allow 2 divisions below, perhaps divided into LoI & IL or, even more exotic, divided geographically.

bottom team relegated automatically from AIL prem division. one into play-off. two winning teams in each lower section play-off against each other with the winner being promoted straight into the top division (as long as licensing in order). the loser of the play-off then plays the second from last team in AIL prem.

easy. it may involve some minor annual alteration of each of the division 1's (east & west / north & south / LoI & IL) to accomodiate the relegated team/s but that wouldn't make a difference to them overall.

perhaps below this each Provence could have a Senior League (USL, MSL, LSL & CSL). the winner of each would play second place in another section*. then it would be an open draw with the winner of the 2 ties progressing to another play-off against the bottom team of one of the Division 1's.

junior football teams are allowed entry into their respective SL by applying for entry to the Provincial FA or perhaps invited after winning local DL or whatever.



The structure would be like below:

.....................AIL Premier......................

.........Div 1a...........................Div 1b......

..CSL...........USL............MSL.............LSL

...................All Junior Divisions................


By doing the above you would create the route of progression from Junior to Intermediate and onto Senior football for each club, a bit like in the GAA afaik. Each level can still retain it's own competitions (FAI Junior & Intermediate Cups and Connacht/Munster/Leinster/Ulster Cup Competitions). From the lowest level it would be possible for a team to reach the absolute pinnacle level in the country through promotions. Surely that possibility should at least be there?? Instead of as it is now where you practically have to cross the species to go from Junior to Senior!!


* the reason first from one section plays second in another would be to allow the so-called stronger Provincial set-ups an increased chance of entry into the Div1. For e.g rightly or wrongly the leinster section would believe itself to be stronger than connacht.

[Schumi]

I can see the logic in a 12 team AIL Premier Division but I think playing everyone three times is a flawed system with the different numbers of home and away games. I don't think there's that big a gap in quality between the bottom 5 or 6 teams in the EL premier that dropping the bottom 3 or so would make a big difference to the overall quality, especially when you look at how often the teams in that part of the table change.

The overall pyramid idea is ideal but judging by the low level of response to the A League (and to division 1 membership in the past), there aren't a lot of clubs interested in moving up to national, senior football. Hopefully that will change in the future but I can see resistance from junior/intermediate clubs who are happy with where they are now.

[pete]

It is fairly clear the FAI League is trying to maintain a reliable league structure with no clubs withdrawing in the middle of the league. If nothing else they have succeeded in this as previously Kilkenny might have folded mid season & caused chaos like Dublin City.

The A Championship clearly provides teams with an opportunity for non-league clubs to prove they can provide the admin & coaching structures required for the eL without added financial pressure of professional football.

It is easy to criticise but seems good move so far.

[galwayhoop]

I can see the logic in a 12 team AIL Premier Division but I think playing everyone three times is a flawed system with the different numbers of home and away games.
assuming that the league season should be somewhere between 33 and 39 games the only options are:
i. 18 team top division - not enough quality for this
ii. 12 team - play 3 times, alternating 2 home games at home every second season.
iii. 12 team - play 3 times with top 6 split (like SPL). this means that you play your closest challengers the same number of times each.

options ii. and iii. are runners imo. fair enough it is not ideal playing one team twice away but it is the best solution available. playing anyone more than 3 times is a joke and we haven't got the quality to make a larger league. the play 3 times works in other countries so i'm not too adverse to it. the fact is i would rather have a league that was competitive and having less teams in the top division should achieve this albeit they have to play each other more.


The overall pyramid idea is ideal but judging by the low level of response to the A League (and to division 1 membership in the past), there aren't a lot of clubs interested in moving up to national, senior football. Hopefully that will change in the future but I can see resistance from junior/intermediate clubs who are happy with where they are now.
with the pyramid above the premier division and first divisions (a&b) would be populated by the teams currently in the eL (prem and first div and maybe the 3 new A- Leaguers) & IL (prem and first). the next level down is the provential senior leagues (teams could refuse promotion from this if they wanted) below this is the local district leagues (again clubs could refuse promotion from this if they choose).

[Schumi]

I'm don't know that 30 games a season (in a 16 team league) is that big a problem. Compared to the current set-up, you're only losing the couple of midweek games which usually have smaller crowds anyway, playing everyone 4 times is too much I agree (roll on 10 team premier next year :rolleyes:). The quality certainly isn't there for a larger league now but I'd hope that adding 4 teams from the North would give a 16 team AIL division with enough quality.

[garyderry]

I'm don't know that 30 games a season (in a 16 team league) is that big a problem. Compared to the current set-up, you're only losing the couple of midweek games which usually have smaller crowds anyway, playing everyone 4 times is too much I agree (roll on 10 team premier next year :rolleyes:). The quality certainly isn't there for a larger league now but I'd hope that adding 4 teams from the North would give a 16 team AIL division with enough quality.

If it was to be a 16 team AIL, i would have thought at least 6 would have to come from the north.

And only a club like UCD would say it would be no odds dropping to 30 games a season, not every club has an empty ground for midweek games

[galwayhoop]

If it was to be a 16 team AIL, i would have thought at least 6 would have to come from the north.

And only a club like UCD would say it would be no odds dropping to 30 games a season, not every club has an empty ground for midweek games

i would have thought that around a spread of 60/40 would be needed to encourage clubs in the IL to join up - and that 40% would not include Derry.

and on the midweek games, i think our game v Cork City, which was played on a Tuesday night, was among (if not hands down) our biggest league crowd of the season!!

[gufcfan]

there aren't a lot of clubs interested in moving up to national, senior football. Hopefully that will change in the future but I can see resistance from junior/intermediate clubs who are happy with where they are now.

I'd agree with that. If I were on the commitee of a club offered a place in the A league, no matter how successful the club is in its own district or provincial league, you would have to look at the likes of Kilkenny going out of business in the league, teams sort of "established" in the league. I'm not sure I would want to risk putting my junior club through that. But perhaps if we can stop this sort of nonsense, i.e. Kilkenny going bust, Athlone being in serious debt... that sort of thing, then junior clubs might have more confidence to make the step up?

[pineapple stu]

The structure would be like below:

.....................AIL Premier......................

.........Div 1a...........................Div 1b......

..CSL...........USL............MSL.............LSL

...................All Junior Divisions................


By doing the above you would create the route of progression from Junior to Intermediate and onto Senior football for each club.
I think that's exactly the way it should be. You need to allow clubs to progress into the league and give the clubs bottom of the First Division something to keep them on their toes, without resorting to the tried, and largely failed, procedure of making up clubs to enter the league.

Course, the problem with the above is that clubs don't want to enter the First Division at the moment, which isn't going to change anytime soon seeing as the bottom half of the league doesn't even get any prize money. The A league doesn't really change much in that regard either, cos it's still a closed league.

Obviously, the fact that senior football is running on an entirely different time frame to junior and intermediate football only further helps to alienate them.

[redron]

IMO, the 'playing each team 3 times' setup is a joke! You might get sick of seeing the same teams and travelling to the same stadiums, but the '2 home, 2 away' structure is much fairer.
About a bigger Premier Division: would a 30- or 32- game league season be enough to meet entry requirements for whatever European competition places that are at stake? I'm not sure if this comes into it at all, but someone said something to me about this before...

[nigel-harps1954]

To bump an old thread rather than start a new one.

Pundit Arena proposed changes to the structure of the league is a bit of a mental one. Try to wrap your heads around this.

http://www.punditarena.com/irish-football/league-of-ireland/somurchu/a-proposed-new-structure-for-the-league-of-ireland-premier-division/


They went into a lot of thought on how this would work without thinking about relegation issues, first division structure, and potential dead rubber games.

I had said it elsewhere, so post it here too, the simple thing to do here is to make two 10 team leagues and reinstate the A Championship with reserve and intermediate sides. Two up and two down each year with a further play-off between 7/8 Premier and 3/4 First. Keeps interest there for everyone with top 6 fighting for Europe, bottom 4 fighting against relegation, while in the First the top 6 are all pushing for promotion places realistically leaving only two sides, maybe three, to battle against bottom of the table play-off against top intermediate side in A Championship. Everyone has something to play for right across the league.

[pineapple stu]

I always find it hard to take seriously anyone who refers to themselves as "This writer"

[nigel-harps1954]

I always find it hard to take seriously anyone who refers to themselves as "This writer"

This poster agrees.

[Eminence Grise]

That was convoluted. I see the writer is an insurance graduate - unlike the rest of us, he must be used to reading incomprehensible policies.

Starting the season on St Patrick's day is a great idea. Sure there's only a parade in every town, the drink and a couple of Gah games in Croker to compete with.:rolleyes:

[outspoken]

To bump an old thread rather than start a new one.

Pundit Arena proposed changes to the structure of the league is a bit of a mental one. Try to wrap your heads around this.

http://www.punditarena.com/irish-football/league-of-ireland/somurchu/a-proposed-new-structure-for-the-league-of-ireland-premier-division/


They went into a lot of thought on how this would work without thinking about relegation issues, first division structure, and potential dead rubber games.

I had said it elsewhere, so post it here too, the simple thing to do here is to make two 10 team leagues and reinstate the A Championship with reserve and intermediate sides. Two up and two down each year with a further play-off between 7/8 Premier and 3/4 First. Keeps interest there for everyone with top 6 fighting for Europe, bottom 4 fighting against relegation, while in the First the top 6 are all pushing for promotion places realistically leaving only two sides, maybe three, to battle against bottom of the table play-off against top intermediate side in A Championship. Everyone has something to play for right across the league.

Can't wrap my head around it at all, you're dead right though Nigel the A Championship needs to be brought back and we can start to build from there. The article on PA says a 10 team division is the only way forward that's total crap it was tried before and everyone was sick of looking at each up to 8 times a season

[jinxy lilywhite]

Ha ha ha what a load of ****e.

[Mr A]

Time to give an 11 team league a go.

[peadar1987]

Time to give an 11 team league a go.

Prime numbers are the way forwards. 7 team leagues are awesome.

[Dalymountrower]

That was convoluted. I see the writer is an insurance graduate - unlike the rest of us, he must be used to reading incomprehensible policies.

Starting the season on St Patrick's day is a great idea. Sure there's only a parade in every town, the drink and a couple of Gah games in Croker to compete with.:rolleyes:
Bohs v Rovers Leinster cup final 17 March 1991?.Probably 6,000 at it
Winner for Bohs scored by PFenlon.

[ger121]

Good discussion on LOI structures across the board by the guys on the ET Podcast. John Sullivan and Pat Devlin the 2 guests.

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-extratime.ie-sportscast/id369553641?mt=2&i=349135136

[colonelwest]

Pundit Arena used to be the loi blog or something like that didn't it? Themselves and Balls.ie's pieces vary between something an 11 year old would write to thinking they're the reincarnation of Yeats.

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland-review-to-be-released-next-week-355625.html

League of Ireland review to be released next week.


Welcoming the review yesterday, Delaney said: “It’s very pragmatic about reflecting the views of everybody — so the media were met, Uefa, the clubs, the Government, some managers, fans’ input was taken on board, sponsors and obviously the association’s views.“The thing is not to grab the report and say, ‘listen, we’re going off now to implement this immediately’, or anything like that. It’s his independent report, how he sees the League of Ireland, with his recommendations.
“What we’ve got to do now is take that to the clubs and out of that we’ll look to meet the clubs individually.
“I wouldn’t put any time frame on (implementation).
“We discussed it at board level and the best thing is to put it out there first, let people take stock of it and then look at how we go about taking it further.
“Whether all of it, some of it or most of it gets implemented will be through the debate that takes place once it’s put out to the public.
“I think it’s a real debate. I don’t think in all our time there’s been such a comprehensive review.
“I don’t think as many stakeholders have been met over such a period of time and, as one of the board members said yesterday, it really captures what people have been saying for maybe the last 10 years.
“I must say, it’s a very good report, a very honest report in my book, and when people see it they can give their views,” he said.

[Longfordian]

It's about time we had another independent assessment process. The last one was great craic.

[disgruntled]

I think it will go well alongside the last report.
What are they going to call this one ?
Genesis Part 2 (The Sequel):rolleyes:

Who knows we might have world wide syndication here yet.

[nigel-harps1954]

I think it will go well alongside the last report.
What are they going to call this one ?


Exodus.

[Mr A]

It's all very vague, and letting the clubs comment will mean there is ample opportunity to do not very much in the end.

[gufcfan]

The long-awaited independent review of the League of Ireland has been presented to the board of the FAI.

and


The report was conducted by consultant Declan Conroy, the man who was project director for the successful bid to bring Euro 2020 games to Dublin.

Does not compute...

Independent my back side.

[Longfordian]

Bits of the report have been leaked already. Main recommendations are for a pyramid structure, a return to winter football and one division for the first two years. Oh and Dundalk have to go back to a grass pitch.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Bits of the report have been leaked already. Main recommendations are for a pyramid structure, a return to winter football and one division for the first two years. Oh and Dundalk have to go back to a grass pitch.

Why?

Our away record is better than our home. It is the only reason the rest of ye can keep in touch

[Longfordian]

Because the input from the stakeholders has been consistent. A zero day approach is desired.