Division One is to be known as The Championship as the Football League looks to raise the profile of the three tiers below the Premiership. Divisions Two and Three will be re-named League One and League Two.
With the top flight dominating media and public attention, the League hopes the changes will boost awareness.
"The Championship is a term steeped in the history of the League. It will place a new emphasis on its status," chairman Sir Brian Mawhinny said.
The standard of football in the lower divisions has been heavily criticised in recent years.
Teams promoted from Division One have struggled to survive in the Premiership - Wolves and Leicester suffered instant relegation last season.
But Mawhinny is a firm fan of 'The Championship' and wants to build on the fact that the League enjoyed its best attendances in 40 years last term.
"Not only is it a gateway to the Premiership, it is one of Europe's leading league competitions, in terms of the standard of football, the stadia and the numbers of supporters attending," he insisted.
"We want our games to become ever more attractive, not only to our core audience, but also to a new generation of youngsters on the brink of discovering the game.
"We also want a commercial audience to be encouraged to re-evaluate its perception of the League."
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So, barstoolers, shall we have a quick run-through for next season? Note changes in BOLD.
"No eircom League club would survive in LEAGUE 2!!!111"
"It doesn't matter if Barrett couldn't score goals in The Championship or League 1 he's still better than Burn or Crow cuz he just is ok"
10/06/2004, 4:23 PM
eoinh
How silly is that. Next players wanted for drug tests will go shopping instead.... oh, thats been done :rolleyes:
