AIL Update

Ive heard 2 different proposals from those behind it: (i). Two 10 or 12 team divisions comprising of teams from both countries with the likes of bohs, drogs, linfield and glentoran in the premier and a first division with bray, ucd and dungannon.

(ii). The second option is an interesting one, interesting because it adopts the regional method of american sports. There would be regional leagues with the winners advancing to the next stage a la MLS, with the hopes that the likes of Cork V Waterford, Drogheda v Dundalk and Finn Harps v Derry would pull in the crowds. There would be a North, East, West and South. The stages beyond that hadnt been discussed as this was only an idea on the table. But market research done had showed at the last Bray v UCD game that UCD only brought 15 fans so that is kind of turning them off that idea. What does everyone think?

Don't like the second option. I like playing Cork, Galway, Derry etc. on a regular basis.

Agreed. That second option is a joke...

I would put any money on the second option not happeneing, for the simple fact that it just wouldn't be atrtractive enough for fans, sponsors, players - anyone really !

An AIL will be all about new and exciting league fixtures - Derry v Linfield, Rovers v Linfield, Bohs v Glentoran etc etc. There would be no point doing it if it was largely just a continuation of what we already have in both leagues.

To be fair, theres no place for the likes of UCD in any future "elite" league.

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Originally Posted by thedoyler

But market research done had showed at the last Bray v UCD game that UCD only brought 15 fans so that is kind of turning them off that idea. What does everyone think?

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How was this research done? I don't remember anyone asking me.

Any system which results in more rather than less trips to Bray gets a thumbs down from me anyway.

2nd option is just the league cup but with norn iron teams in it

The current state of the AIL has been presented to the LOI Managers Association, dont know when but they have met and its all been discussed with them and the current 'framework' (in search for a better word) has been outlined to them.

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Originally Posted by Schumi

How was this research done? I don't remember anyone asking me.

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Yeah, I hope no one paid for it as I wasn't asked either.

There were 15 of you, and they were doing a head count. Presumably they didn't need any assistance in the task.

It will be awhile before it even happens and I suppose the Setanta Cup is a good opportunity to see the north v south teams in action. You can't really beat having the best and most successful teams on the island together rather than a geographical split - in fairness America is about 100 times bigger than Ireland so it makes sense for them but not for us. Big difference going from Drogheda to Galway that it is to go from Houston to Miami.

One thing that I do know is that Dublin does not need another team - the established ones that are there already are struggling so how in God's name is Sporting Fingal going to prosper???? There appointment is doomed to failure.

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Originally Posted by BohDiddley

There were 15 of you, and they were doing a head count. Presumably they didn't need any assistance in the task.

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So how do you know who the people not wearing club colours support?

I suppose they could have invested in some high-end statistical package and extrapolated from the base support of scarfers.

Though perhaps they should have consulted with you as to the UCD casuals element. :D

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

So how do you know who the people not wearing club colours support?

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Rovers or Bohs?

:D

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Originally Posted by BohDiddley

I suppose they could have invested in some high-end statistical package and extrapolated from the base support of scarfers.

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I have no problem with a guesstimate and don't expect that Bray should have carried out expensive market research but if it didn't even go so far as to survey people entering at the only gate then don't use numbers as if they come from an authoritative source.

By the way, I am not arguing with the numbers and don't claim we had more or less fans there. I honestly can't remember.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

I have no problem with a guesstimate and don't expect that Bray should have carried out expensive market research but if it didn't even go so far as to survey people entering at the only gate then don't use numbers as if they come from an authoritative source.

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I really doubt that we were actually carrying out market research. It could've been the FAI.

It wasnt bray that did it it was the people pushing for the new league who sanctioned these 'studies' only reason bray was mentioned is because i support them and i was trying to find out what they saw for our club in the future if the aforementioned league goes ahead. Speaking from a neutral point of view i could see an increase in attendances for a short while then it would tail off like the setanta cup attendances seem to have I mean would you travel into dalyer to see Bohs v cliftonville sooner than bohs v lets say...sligo? Probably not.

An AIL league is not going to work with the current situation in Irish football. Why? Well because

(a) Most of the 'elite' EL clubs are from Dublin
(b) Beyond Linfield, Cliftonville and Glentoran, the IL has jack sh*t to offer
(c) A lot of EL clubs are in a mess and NEED to see out the FAI's 5 year participation agreement including 65% restriction on wages, in order to get their house in order.
(d) There is no point in even thinking about an AIL unless clubs like Galway, Limerick, Sligo Rovers, Athlone Town, Dundalk etc are involved at the top table. Because otherwise it will not be an All Ireland League. EVERY club in the EL should be involved in any discussions or plans, not just the Dublin clubs or the clubs who don't fancy the FAI's participation agreement or wage cap.

In any case, there will be no AIL without the FAI or the IL's permission, because without their agreement there would be no European football to qualify for. So they can talk all they like, and present what they want, but it's going nowhere unless the associations back it. And the associations will not back it unless they control it and it includes the likes of the aforementioned clubs above :ball:

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Originally Posted by thedoyler

Ive heard 2 different proposals from those behind it: (i). Two 10 or 12 team divisions comprising of teams from both countries with the likes of bohs, drogs, linfield and glentoran in the premier and a first division with bray, ucd and dungannon.

(ii). The second option is an interesting one, interesting because it adopts the regional method of american sports. There would be regional leagues with the winners advancing to the next stage a la MLS, with the hopes that the likes of Cork V Waterford, Drogheda v Dundalk and Finn Harps v Derry would pull in the crowds. There would be a North, East, West and South. The stages beyond that hadnt been discussed as this was only an idea on the table. But market research done had showed at the last Bray v UCD game that UCD only brought 15 fans so that is kind of turning them off that idea. What does everyone think?

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Excellent. They could play Armagh City and the gate could be a grand total of 22. Armagh City brought 7 to Windsor last week. :rolleyes:

There will be a window of opportunity in 2009 for the AIL to go ahead as that's when the current participation agreement enables it (i thought it was longer but thats what i hear)

The current eight clubs and Linfield and Glentoran is basically whats been looked at for the new league, and with Linfield and Glentoran the standard will be better no matter whats said. They seem to be the people behind it.

There is huge investment available if this goes ahead, THE best i have ever heard about in all my time supporting this league. Clubs will not walk away from this as the prize money will dwarf anything thats there at the moment and there will be TV money in there too. Money will call the shots.

They are looking at ways around the European situation and there seem to be 'positive solutions' available. Dont know anymore on that.

There is huge work going on behind the scenes from what i gather and that will continue. Not saying it will happen but it will come close at the very least, and if that kicks the FAI up the ass to improve their own package then everyone wins. FAI will have to work damn hard to improve the current situation by the time the decision comes into play if they are going to be able to convince clubs to stay with the current situation, so we should be alot happening on that front i'd say.

The FAI, imo have been doing alot of the right things in the last few years so its not all bad, they just need to keep it going and ensure it all gets better. If they can nail down the TV situation this year and next and raise the profile then that could be a huge advantage for them. If clubs can get sponsorship locally easier that they have been doing as a result of the exposure then it'll be a huge point scored for them.