It's hard to know. Two clubs will be promoted. I would expect the A Championship will continue. Some clubs wanted out of having to field an A side though. I'm not sure if the FAI will grant their request.
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It's hard to know. Two clubs will be promoted. I would expect the A Championship will continue. Some clubs wanted out of having to field an A side though. I'm not sure if the FAI will grant their request.
Got this from the LOI thread....
There's a report by Philip Quinn in today's Irish Daily Mail saying that the 22 League of Ireland clubs met in Athlone on Monday night last regarding the structure of the LOI. The outcome of the meeting was that the clubs voted on a majority of 12-9 (one club must not have attended or didn't vote) to change the following:
- Summer Soccer gone to be replaced by a Winter Season from August 2012
- Premier Division to increase from 10 to 16 teams from end of 2011 season
- Setanta Cup to be run-off during the month of July specifically to help the teams that qualify for Europe
There would be no relegation at the end of 2011, and the top six clubs in the First Division will be promoted to the new 16 team Premier. The bottom six in the First Division will link up with 'A' league clubs and form a new second tier division. Suggestions that the 'A' league would then be scrapped or revamped as the second tier division.
No metion on what clubs will do from the end of next season (Nov 2011) until August 2012. I don't think you could go with a mini-league from February to May as the League Champions won't get European football as the Nov 2011 League Champions will be playing in the 2012/13 European competitions.
Also, the tightness of the vote suggested that there is a big split as to what this is what ALL the clubs really want. However, the findings from Monday's meeting of the clubs in Athlone is going to be presented to John Delaney and the League of Ireland Executive Committee at their meeting in Dublin tomorrow (Thursday). If they ratify it, the new 16 team Premier League will kick-off in August 2012.
As I said apologies if this has been posted elsewhere and I missed it.
That meeting was ages ago wasn't it?
Ya about 2months back, just wanted to posted it up here so some could see.
Has there been any confirmation on wots goin to happen next season. probably things will be as is for this season coming anyway.
Yeah, that article is out of date. From what's been said on here, it seems summer soccer will stay and there'll will be a 12 team Premier with a split. This is all to be confirmed so everything has to be taken with a pinch of salt.
It's hard to know on the A Championship. If the FAI grant the wish of clubs who want to remove the requirement to field an A side, there'll be less A sides entering. 3 first division clubs already enter without the requirement, if for arguments sake only 5 Premier were to enter an A side as well, the FAI might have to look at making the A Championship national. Any club looking to join will have to be will to be part of a national set-up. If this was to happen, which is wild speculation on my behalf, it's hard to know if enough clubs will enter to the A Championship, so that it can still be run.
Any up date on whats happening with the A-Championship?
No use in asking... the answer is nobody knows.Quote:
Originally Posted by theboy
This will be the last season of A championship as the plan is to have a super dooper under 19s running all through winter
If you are right, it'll be a bad move. There has to be a pathway for new clubs to join the league.
There is, its called an application formQuote:
Originally Posted by legendz
It's a great system alright for promoting the game!
As far as I know across the water the youth league is U18 level but 3 U19's are allowed and they also have an U16 level. Half-way between might be ideal for the League of Ireland, a youth league at U17 level but 3 U18's allowed. The A Championship then should remain, a pathway for potential new clubs. For Premier and established clubs it'd be the level to field players around 18 and 20.
Dynamos have appointed Brian McCarthy as their general manager, are holding their usual pre-season open trials, and are installing floodlights at Cahermoneen to allow Friday night matches, so they're operating on the basis that at least the 2011 A Championship is going ahead.
Installing floodlights is development of sorts. Clubs need years to develop and establish themselves, as does the A Championship itself.
Sligo Rovers holding trials for A team if anyone here interested. Details here.
According to this, Castlebar Celtic are pulling out:
http://foot.ie/threads/124208-Mayo-L...=1#post1439916
Yes heard this yesterday there pulling out and returning to the Mayo League.
The only solution might be to nationalise the A Championship, even if the two Rovers, Limerick, Shels and Finn Harps were the only clubs who wanted to field a team. The U19 league probably is not a bad idea, it's the system used in Scotland.
any fixtures for this yet? th A cup starts end of Feb usually. will Fanad united be in now?
Fanad are not in the A League but Letterkenny Rovers have applied, no word on whether it was accepted though.
I think the FAI's insistence on youth structures, though the right idea, is a bit much. As long as clubs can field youth sides for youth leagues the FAI runs, I don't see the problem.