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I skipped through this tread but why not bother with a 1st division and have the A Championship with the north & south split with more teams. top of each group goes into a playoff with the bottom 2 sides from the prem division for a place in the prem division.
There is a number of ideas floating around. Everyone has their own idea on how the league should move forward.
They could end the First Division but will clubs want to be essentially demoted to a regional league? Or a league with Premier reserves? I don't think agreement will be had with half of Division One to be absorbed with the A Championship. If they decided to go with 18 in the Premier, which hasn't been mentioned much, they might then be able to get a third of Division One to absorb with the A Championship.
If it is a 16 Premier which is finalised, I can see Division One remaining but as an 8 team Division. The A Championship will continue as well.
The FAI want to get rid of the A League with immediate effect.
and they should its a waste of resources for the clubs.
If true, it's sad to hear that. Been often told there is not a hope of a pyramid structure within the league. The A Championship was to open the door for potential new clubs. Granted not many clubs are joining at present but without it, the league will go back to being a closed league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
Have ye been informed of this or is it just speculation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
Our First Division title last season is about as conclusive a proof to the contrary that you could hope to find.Quote:
Originally Posted by cornflakes
If true, this is probably the most regressive step the FAI could take for the development of football. Mervue and Salthill may be struggling at the moment, but by their progress to the First Division, they've shown the potential of the format, while in the past, Cobh would have gone bust, but at least with the safety net of the A Championship, they've completely rebuilt in less than two seasons. Tralee, Carlow and Tullamore have all had their moments in the FAI Cup and League Cup, while Castlebar's progress in the 2009 League suggests the potential of Mayo football. Maybe non-Dublin Premier clubs haven't used it to their potential, but certainly UCD, Bohs, Rovers and Fingal have developed their squads in the competition, so this seems a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Have to agree, dont think its the way forward to get rid of the A championship. but is its true that its to be got rid of this needs to be confirmed. It was always goin to take time for it to work. So stoppin it now would maybe stop clubs from ever joining it if it was to be set up again down the line.
There was an article in one of yesterday papers (the Sun I think) stating that Fanad United have applied to join the A Championship.
I cant find anything on line to link to though.
Not speculation.Quote:
Originally Posted by theboy
The A Championship has been in existence for 3 seasons. It'll take a lot longer for it to get established. I think it will be helped by a 16 team Premier, guaranteeing at least 8 A clubs in each of the two groups.
A move to end this Championship will be a regressive step. Clubs holding a Premier licence should be able to field an A side.
With the A Championship in place, U20 is a high age group for a Youth league. U18 or U19 is about the right age group, with players then making their progress with A sides and then onto their first teams.
It has to be noted that 3 clubs outside the Premier are fielding A sides and seem to appreciate the importance of it. First division Finn Harps, Limerick and Shelbourne all have A sides.
If the Premier is expanded to 16 and based on this year, Cobh and Carlow are invited to Division One, the A Championship can continue as:
Group 1
Bohemians A
Sporting Fingal A
Dundalk A
Sligo Rovers A
Finn Harps A
Shelbourne A
Castlebar Celtic
Drogheda Utd A
Derry City A
Monaghan Utd A
Group 2
UCD A
St. Pat's A
Shamrock Rovers A
Limerick A
Tralee Dynamos
Tullamore Town
Bray Wanderers A
Galway Utd A
Waterford Utd A
Cork City FORAS A
Just as a 16 team Premier will have more of a nationwide spread of clubs across the four provinces, it'd have the same affect on the A Championship in it's two groups.
12 team Premier and 2 regional 1st divisions are proposed from 2012 onwards.
We've been told there will be no A Championship next season.
It will also be an Under 19 League, not Under 20 nor Under 18.
Is the league going to be a closed league?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
A regressive step for the league is a return to being a closed league. The A Championship was created to make a path for clubs to join the league.
It appears culloty's suggestion in the initial post of this thread was bang on on what was possible to happen:
For Tralee and the other A Championship clubs, I think it'll be a great move for them to be part of a regionalised First Division as opposed to the A Championship. It also might help to promote the game better in these areas. I can't see how the proposal is a move forward for other clubs though.Quote:
Originally Posted by culloty82
This regionalised First Division that appears is going to be created, there should be some pathway for potential new clubs. Being a closed league is the only thing I'd have against it. If I was one of the 10 clubs being put into a regional division though, I would not be for it.
The one question that has to be asked is how the A clubs would be expected to prepare in 2011. As it stands, according to Sam, the lack of league action would see them back in the junior leagues for the coming season, after which they would then have to be instantly competitive against Cork and Waterford in the south or Finn Harps and possibly Drogheda in the north. Still, I'd agree the greater certainty and inclusion of clubs would be a step forward, and with eight teams in each section, it still allows for expansion from any interested teams.
So with no A-Championship next year will the likes of Tulamore, Castlebar and Tralee go into one of the 2 regional 1st divisions? and the same for new clubs that would have been looking to join the A-league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
Can you post up the proposed premier and 2 regional 1st divisions for next year?
I think the A Championship should remain regardless, even if it's 6 reserve clubs in each group. A good question is raised about what do the 5 A Championship clubs do next season?
Whatever comes out of this announcement on Friday, I hope the A Championship remains. Three Division One clubs opt to play in it at present. At the very least it could be optional for all clubs and not part of being a Premier club, even if just 6 or 7 clubs were willing to play in the league and intermediate/junior clubs could be invited while playing within their respective leagues, the Championship should remain. Only this season they introduced the A Championship Cup to give more games at this level. Go go entirely the opposite way and end the Championship will be a bad regressive step.