FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

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Originally Posted by Trainee

FAI confirmed this a long time ago when the O Connor report came out, Talks are at advanced stage between Meruve, Salthill, GUST & Galway FA. It is proposed all the parties will have one member of the board of new club (don't have any further info),but I would expect more info on proposed new club will come out in next few weeks

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I wish people would stop trying to fix the problems in the league with these Frankenstein's monster attempts at club building. What is the point in having a joined Mervue-Salthill-GUST club? Mervue and Salthill will be competing with each other at underage level and all other Galway junior clubs will be excluded. The FAI should just do what they clearly want to and find some stupid reason to cast Mervue and Salthill from the league and give GUST their undeserved preference, rather than try to meld two junior clubs' identities into some ready made mold for GUST. Individual club identities deserve more respect.

For the record, this also applies to expanding the LOI brand in new counties. Successful junior clubs are where interest needs to be built, not some Tipperary United farce.

The FAI dont wanna give it to gust.

Most likely outcone in galway next year is a Limerick 37 ish thang.

And there'll only be one division. I'd nearly put money on it at this stage.

One of the things I always wondered was what any GUST/Mervue/Salthill entity would look like. Would it actually be a new club, or would it just be Galway United with their colours, name, stadium and history attached? I recall one poster on here last arguing vehemently that the new entity should absolutely be called "Galway United" and nothing else. I can imagine the people behind Salthill and Mervue would be fearful of their clubs ethos - as small as it may be - vanishing in a merger.

At this rate, the whole thing will go the same way as the Connacht Senior League idea- pushed down the pipeline again.

My biggest fear is that the genuine supporters of Galway soccer, and GUST, are being lead down the garden path again. I'd imagine it's going to be nigh on impossible to carry the can for a 3rd successive year without a team.

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Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Most likely outcone in galway next year is a Limerick 37 ish thang.

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Not being smart, I'm genuinely curious as to what that means? I thought Limerick simply changed their name to Limerick 37 for a few seasons then changed back to Limerick F.C. after a while or is there more to it? I thought they were the same company?

Also agree they don't want to give gust the responsibility, I think it's fairly clear. They want all "stakeholders" involved.

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Originally Posted by Olander

Not being smart, I'm genuinely curious as to what that means? I thought Limerick simply changed their name to Limerick 37 for a few seasons then changed back to Limerick F.C. after a while or is there more to it? I thought they were the same company?

Also agree they don't want to give gust the responsibility, I think it's fairly clear. They want all "stakeholders" involved.

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Limerick 37 had the same people who had been involved in senior football for years (some were coming back after a short break following some purges by danny drew)

But sitting on the board you also had people from the schoolboy league and the junior league.

And in the background you had the fai pulking strings and giving out the occasional sweets.

It didnt really work out! But in thepry the idea wasnt a bad one and i genuinely think its a similar type of thing the fai are pumping galway for.

They wont want it going on much longer in galway without a team its a lucrative family friendly kind of a loi place.

But gust are too inexperienced/erratic to be given the run of the place.

And if.anything big is to happen in galway naughton will want his piece of the pie. He's earned it by being the best boy all this time.






Also afaik the name change was because drew owned the name "limerick fc" at the time

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Originally Posted by Macy

I think it would ultimately kill the clubs like us, harps, athlone, Waterford (2 of whom won't be going up).

8 (or less) will ultimately kill them too, unless there's an increase in numbers up and down (2 down, 2 up and a playoff). If bohs or shels (or both) come down they'd be favourites for automatic promotion.

It can't go on like this, but I don't think reserve teams is the solution. One division or a radical redesign/ reformat.

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If we get relegated, we'll more thank likely go under.

There are several good suggestions here, but I have yet to understand what people have in mind when they think of a single division, with 16-18 clubs and no relegation (unless it's a temporary measure). One of the reasons that make the First Division this dull and disgusting thing is precisely the lack of relegation, which means that teams like Salthill Devon will be forever hanging on in the last place with 5 points. Not to mention the obvious fact that in a championship like this the only 4 or 5 teams with stable finances will compete for the european spots and the other 11 will basically play 30 friendlies against each other, can you imagine what sort of team would troubled clubs (like Bohs, for example) come up with if they had no relegation to be afraid of? The cheapest possible, of course. We would have most of the teams playing with absolutely no ambition and investing exact zero on improving their squad, since they will be there next year anyways, and if it's already hard to put 1500 people in most matches, who would watch that c***? Unless the FAI has some even crazier idea, like NBA style playoffs.

My idea, is that we could have a single division, with all the current teams except Salthill Devon and Mervue United (maybe Mervue can be spared) and GUST in their place, for the next year. This would qualify the first 10/12/14/16/any number you prefer to the next year's championship, while something of the hundreds of nice ideas in this topic is done to encourage traditional and well structured junior squads to join the league. But then again, thinking of tables and number of clubs in a division is the easiest. The biggest problem is all the rest.

The reason the 1st is so dull and disgusting is the lack of promotional opportunities, not a lack of relegation. That and it's too bloody small. Maybe an expanded premier would have the same problem because of no relegation, but at least all clubs would be guaranteed a certain number of big games/ gates to help them survive. If the FAI can get their crap together and get other clubs to join, then we can look at a split again, as in 1985, but at the moment there isn't the number of clubs for 2 divisions and no indications of any looking to make the step up.

As for this "inviting applications" crap - the FAI should've been going around the country developing, helping and encouraging clubs to make the step up. They've done nothing. Their only focus has been on reducing the number of clubs with the Galway situation. At a time when the league needs clubs, even if it's not ideal having 2 or 3 from the same city. GUST have been ready to go the last few years, and the FAI have actively blocked a club that's willing and able to join the league. Beggars belief imo, and all so people in the FAI can point to a LoI related "achievement". What are the FAI doing with the likes of Mons and Kilkenny, to try and encourage them back into the league?

It's time for something radical. Open discussions with the IFA and UEFA about an AIL. We should switch to winter to facilitate this if it looks like a runner (there's no way a summer season would work imo if the issues of this summer are repeated in the 6 counties). It's no silver bullet, but would give everyone the chance of decent sized leagues without the monotony of playing teams 4 or 5 or more times a season, and would give a short term boost to clubs. If that's not a runner, a radical shake up here (2 conferences and play offs or something along those lines).

FAI should be doing all they can to get junior clubs to make the push up, the league entry should be lower than what it is and grants should be made available to "new" clubs willing to step up so they can build up their infrastructures. The likes of Tralee and Carlow were asking to be put forward a few years ago, Monaghan could come back as they have a junior club still going in the Ulster Senior League I think it is. Do Castlebar want to come back? Even during the old reserves/u21 leagues there was two Mullingar teams, can they put a team forward? Would Home Farm, St. Francis etc be willing to come back. Theres very little teams out in south Dublin other than UCD and Rovers over in Tallaght. Balbriggan and Swords are big catchment areas with no clubs around.

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Originally Posted by Bohs11

If we get relegated, we'll more thank likely go under.

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And that's precisely why there will only be one division next year, if Bohs finish bottom (and they will )

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Originally Posted by Bohs11

If we get relegated, we'll more thank likely go under.

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Would that 100,000 you might have got if you had beaten that pish poor Icelandic team last season had made any difference! Europe can be important (re what the fat guy on MNS always says)

I really cannot see a position where bohs would fold if they were relegated. technically bohs are the only traditional northside team left. I really cant see how they couldn't be rebuilt from bottom up.

before shels fans kick up, no matter what you say you are a southside club

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

I really cannot see a position where bohs would fold if they were relegated. technically bohs are the only traditional northside team left. I really cant see how they couldn't be rebuilt from bottom up

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According to prico, its great for clubs to go down. Done us and athlone loads of good being stuck in the first.

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Originally Posted by Macy

According to prico, its great for clubs to go down. Done us and athlone loads of good being stuck in the first.

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Dunno about you but Athlone have got RODDY since they went down.

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Originally Posted by avvenalaf

And that's precisely why there will only be one division next year, if Bohs finish bottom (and they will )

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Havn't given up hope yet. A win tomorrow against Rovers and it could drastically change our season.

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

I really cannot see a position where bohs would fold if they were relegated. technically bohs are the only traditional northside team left. I really cant see how they couldn't be rebuilt from bottom up.


before shels fans kick up, no matter what you say you are a southside club

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Our crowds have drastically reduced this season. I'd say were averaging about 1,100 a game. With significantly smaller away gate receipts, decreased sponsorship and increased travel costs there's a very real chance of Zurich deciding were not viable anymore and pulling the rug from under us.

Our only real hope of survival is sitting it out until property prices pick up somewhat and selling Dalymount for more than our liabilities.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Would that 100,000 you might have got if you had beaten that pish poor Icelandic team last season had made any difference! Europe can be important (re what the fat guy on MNS always says)

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It definitely would have made a difference. However in the overall scheme of things it would have been just a fraction of what we owe.

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Originally Posted by Bohs11

It definitely would have made a difference. However in the overall scheme of things it would have been just a fraction of what we owe.

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Was think more like building a team with that dosh.

Are your crowds still not bad considering you are near the bottom last two season?

I wouldnt imagine Bohs will go through any greater challenge than any other side who spent time in the FD if they went down. I understand the Zurich position, but crowds might actually pick up if they are leading the FD (if they did get relegated)

Lets face it, only two clubs have been spared the FD at this stage, Pats are the other one, so its really not the end of the world if it happens, a setback yes, but it can be turned around.

Going out of business altogether is another matter ofcourse.

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Originally Posted by Macy

According to prico, its great for clubs to go down. Done us and athlone loads of good being stuck in the first.

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F*cking hate that old cherry being rolled out by a club when relegated - lets rebuild from scratch blah blah, 7 damn years of hellish rebuilding if thats the case for us and not on the cheap either! and feck all done rebuilding either if ye ask me. To add to that a constant reminder of those horrible days is that many of our younger fans see the Drogs as our main big rivals now, bless them, as our wee neighbours happened to be going through their only period of success while we flirted with re-election, were denied promotion twice in the dimly lit corridors of Merrion Square, were managed by somone who resembled an evil dictator, laid a carpet as a pitch, sold our training ground, nearly gave John Gill a few heart attacks along with many other fans, only to be promoted eventually by a goal scored by Limerick.....yeah its great to be relegated!!!

Well I know CCS hasn't looked this good in years. Tasty as fcuk so it is!!

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

only to be promoted eventually by a goal scored by Limerick...

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What a goal it was though. :)

For those wondering about Kilkenny City reforming, it's unlikely. Posted here prior to the new season when everyone was curious as to who was going to enter / could enter the league.


Without a North/South or East/West split an expanded 1st Division is unrealistic from the point of view of newly formed clubs entering the league. Rivalries would form easier thus meaning better attendances and more sustainable clubs. Like a potential 8 team First Division South could be - Waterford, Wexford, Cobh plus Carlow, Tralee, Kilkenny, perhaps team from Tipperary. It may be against what I mentioned in the post I linked but it would certainly be more appealing to think that there would be 6 south east derby games per season straight away.

The majority of nations with something similar already have a 3rd tier (which is normally where the splits are) which are made up of teams we would regard as Senior or Intermediate teams here. But here in lies the problem with expanding or creating a bigger league, the league itself is not connected to what should be it's feeder leagues i.e. Leinster/Munster/Ulster and Connaught Senior leagues. Even the nations with similar populations have a structure in place where every team that plays is part of the same pyramid, from Pro down to Junior. With exception of the FAI Cup, there is no connection to those leagues. I guess the other issue is that if ever a move was made to connect the leagues to each other, there would be general uproar from the Senior clubs who are quiet happy with their current set-up and league systems. What's acceptable in terms of the First Division licencing would also need to change of course.

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Originally Posted by Dermotron

I guess the other issue is that if ever a move was made to connect the leagues to each other, there would be general uproar from the Senior clubs who are quiet happy with their current set-up and league systems. What's acceptable in terms of the First Division licencing would also need to change of course.

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I'd imagine there'd be more uproar amongst junior clubs.

Newry Town (City now) looked into joining the LOI when they were forced out of the Irish Lge PD 2 years ago. I dont think they took it any further as the IFA were having just about enough of the players thing, and cut them a deal to join up in some regional league.

But they definitely looked into a FD application.

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Originally Posted by sadloserkid

What a goal it was though. :)

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Oh I agree totally - dramatic stuff it was!! Took everyone by surprise especially the Kildare stewards who thought that the fans running on to celebrate were running at John Gill rather than to him - they were hastily carrying him away as he was trying to confirm what what had happened and they were hanging on to him for dear life, quite funny and priceless memories.

Today's Indo reporting that the plan for a single Galway club is on the brink of collapse - GUST requested that the name "Galway United" be used and the merged entity be run as a co-operative, and are considering pulling out, as neither demand proved acceptable to Mervue and Salthill.

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Originally Posted by culloty82

Today's Indo reporting that the plan for a single Galway club is on the brink of collapse - GUST requested that the name "Galway United" be used and the merged entity be run as a co-operative, and are considering pulling out, as neither demand proved acceptable to Mervue and Salthill.

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So all the talk about wanting whats best for football in Galway from GUST but if its not on their terms then they pull out.

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

So all the talk about wanting whats best for football in Galway from GUST but if its not on their terms then they pull out.

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In fairness now, if it's just another show run by Naughton and his cronies then I don't blame them in the slightest.

This is meant to be a club run by Galway football in the best interests of football in the region. If the people in the region don't get a say in things then whats the point in the first place?

I like Mervue Salthill Galway as a name. Wouldn't MSG would be a great additive to the league?

What have they been discussing up to now if they haven't any agreement on the basic running of the club and what it may be called?

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Originally Posted by Longfordian

What have they been discussing up to now if they haven't any agreement on the basic running of the club and what it may be called?

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AHHH things like >>>who will be representing them on the fai council.......what deal can salthill get from the FAI.......what deal can Mervue get from the fai....who be CEO and it will take a few week to PICK a F"""""ing name for christ sake

We've had the discussion over the name at some point in the past and I remember this: http://foot.ie/threads/172511-Report...=1#post1632454

And I knew right then and there that the name it was going to be a sticking point at one stage. Not surprised to see SD and Mervue balking at what no longer looks like a true merger of equals, just Galway United absorbing the other two and carrying on.

Here's my post from a year ago. I think it still applies to the naming issue

http://foot.ie/threads/172511-Report...=1#post1632537

I think you're right. New club, new name. Otherwise it's just a takeover, not a merger. Pity the rugger boys have Galwegians sewn up.

I seriously can't see any reasonable objection to something like "Galway City FC". Or just "Galway FC".

Ditto. Or County. Insisting on 'United' seems like a deliberate attempt to put a stumbling block in place.

SD Galway Bay Waves

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Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

So all the talk about wanting whats best for football in Galway from GUST but if its not on their terms then they pull out.

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In a fully functioning Irish football system, Mervue and Salthill would be thriving clubs in their own right at underage and junior level, with the Ultimate aim of providing a competitive Galway United with players.

The fact that all 3 are squabbling is really sad to see.

I wager the more successful run that Mervue have put together this year has got them wondering whether a merger is still in their best interest.

I agree that Galway County sounds like a good name for the new club, as it may attract support from outside the city.