where are you getting 18 viable teams
:p
where are you getting 18 viable teams
:p
You'd need 19 :pQuote:
Originally Posted by gufct
The last thing clubs like Athlone would need would be a year in the Premier division. They're nowhere up to the standard, so would either get humped on a weekly basis (= serious reduction in interest in the club) or they'd get carried away with 'the dream' and keeping up with the big boys and put themselves even further into financial ruin.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackholesun
It's no coincidence that the better supported First Division clubs are the ones usually pushing for promotion (Dundalk, Shels, Waterford). Part of off-the-field structures is having the fan-base to sustain football at a higher level. Athlone simply do not have that at the moment, so shouldn't be allowed within a mile of the Premier.
Gutted for Athlone. Only in my teens but had the pleasure of being to both St Mels and Lissywoollen. Great club. Good History but most of all Eircom league die hard fans like myself would hate to see Athlone die for the fans. C'mon people of Athlone! Save your club!
Best of luck Athlone! Rooting for ye!
Know a few of the players from Athlone. From what I've heard Seem to very much doubt, from a few weeks back, that there'll be a team in LOI next season.
Shame really. Too big an area to not have a team.
Gonna have to cut your cloth accordingly and quit trying to aspire to a place in the champions league....bankrupting half your clubs has hardly leapt you up the UEFA co-efficiency table this past few seasons.
Move to a 16 team top division, with a meaningful "a" league for p&r before its too late...clubs with potentially decent support like Athlone need the visits of the likes of Derry to help keep their head above water.
10 teams, 4 rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by gufct
All legal and financial disputed decided in multi-ball over-time.
IN all fairness there's no way clubs like Cobh and Athlone can be accused of overspending in the dream of making Champions LeagueQuote:
Originally Posted by AnnaghRed
Its sad to see athlone in such a bad way especially with their history! They prob have the best stand in the league and i know there was plans in place to further develope the ground not so long ago. You'd have to fear the worst for them unfortunatley but best of luck to them and i hope they survive.
What sort of crowds are Athlone town getting? The new stand looks fantastic.
Is there potential for Athlone to be a big club or is it a GAA area?
Athlone is a football town (like Dundalk and Sligo, it's one of the old garrison towns where 'soccer' has always been more popular than the gah), and ATFC were one of the first (the first? Does anyone know where Midland Athletic were based?) provincial town sides to enter the League of Ireland. They've been in the First Division doldrums for far too long (over ten years now! That's hard to believe) which has just about killed off their support. If they were playing in the Premier they'd probably attract a decent support, of course, the same could be said of Longford, Limerick, Waterford and Shels (:D)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dassa
I'd hate to see Athlone Town go under, I hope they can rescue their club.
i kopt on to my mistake when i was offline, oops! ya the 1 game less would not make a big differemnce. also i find it hard to understand why a team would want to finish in the bottom 6 and get less prize money & prob lower gates as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Despite their name, Midland Athletic were a Dublin side.Quote:
Originally Posted by eelmonster
Played in a ground called 'The Thatch', though no idea which part of town that was.
Cheers, Steve. So Athlone Town were the first team from outside of Dublin to be elected to the LoI? It would be a real shame if they didn't get a licence, perhaps the FAI cound buy Lissywoollen too to help them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
The current plight of Athlone is another example of the existing structure that is the 2 team league not working. Athlone got a crowd fo 4,000 for the fai cup v Rovers only 2 years ago, this proves there is a support in the town.
The first div is a joke, no media interest and even less with fans.
A 16 team Prem league with a regional feeder lge beneath would be the way forward in my opinion.
This way we could cater for clubs stuck in the first with a decent history like Athlone, Waterford, Limerick, (Finn Harps) and Shels
i would safely say that we were one of the clubs as our costs are gone up hugely with less income to meet increasing debts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
athlone town were the founding members in 1924 but then resigned and didnt come back into the league till the late sixties.Quote:
Originally Posted by eelmonster
Im a Galway Utd fan but ill be gutted if they go.One of the few clubs with a real tradition in the league and ive good memories of going to see us against them in the old old old old old old Mels Park.I REALLY hope they can be saved.
Nope. League was founded in 1921, we joined the year after. We did play in the first Free State Cup though, and won that in 1924.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinho II
Why have you got Harps in brackets? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Coz they may or may not be in the First next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy