20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

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Originally Posted by legendz

The suggested National League sounds more like a potential Fourth Tier! Seems a backward step to invite clubs who have not built their academy structures. Maybe that will be part of the licencing for promotion to the First Division.
Progressive first teams with academy structures and progressive second teams e.g. Shamrock Rovers could potentially suit a Second Division.

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If a 3rd Tier was to come in, and you were hoping to bring in regional teams, you will probably need a way to start grading academies. You cant have so many 'elite' academies, and you have to be weary to diluting LOI underage. If you are expanding LOI to new clubs, there probably needs to be a new stream of a underage competition (lets say an LOI B), rather than just expanding the current set-up.

Might help the gap between established LOI set-ups and new teams wanting to enter LOI.

Have the FAI actually confirmed that LoI second teams can take part?
Even at this early stage of Kerry's development, following some of the signings in the off season, I'd like to see Kerry consider a second team for the local players coming through the academy. Limerick FC and Finn Harps were proactive in fielding second teams in the A Championship, despite not being obliged to do so when in the First Division.

Can't imagine Limerick FC being approved, given the hammerings their underage sides have been getting, but they're reportedly applying:

https://leagueofirelandtalk.wordpres...tional-league/

If it's on the Internet it must be true!

every other applicant will earn full marks under the heading "not owned by Pat O'Sullivan"

So do we have a list of clubs which have stated that they will be applying?

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

So do we have a list of clubs which have stated that they will be applying?

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If you look back over previous posts you will see numerous clubs mentioned. You can bet that many of them have been added because of their potential. I reckon too, that fans with insider contacts have added these names to see the response and reaction.

You could choose several clubs names from the list who have definitely made inquiries to the FAI and have also applied!

So "No" is the answer then?

Betting that clubs have been mentioned for their potential isn't the same as them stating they'll be applying.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

So "No" is the answer then?

Betting that clubs have been mentioned for their potential isn't the same as them stating they'll be applying.

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From what I have read Mayo FC have applied and a junior Galway club, CK United and Kildare and 2/3 from the LSL in the Leinster region. Limerick FC have applied. 1 club in the Donegal area and UCC have shown interest.

As usual there are rumours and names being put around, which is great as I believe there is a huge interest.

Any chance of a mid to south Wicklow Team? I’ve seen Arklow mentioned and also Gorey Rangers.

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Originally Posted by ger121

Any chance of a mid to south Wicklow Team? I’ve seen Arklow mentioned and also Gorey Rangers.

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Do we really need a third Wicklow team?

The deadline has past. How quickly will things move with a short season expected in 12-15 months ?

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Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Do we really need a third Wicklow team?

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Bray and Rovers mean nothing in these parts of the garden of Ireland.

The one club we definitively know has applied is St Francis:

https://www.extratime.com/articles/3...nd-third-tier/

“The process at the moment is only in the ‘expressions of interest’ stage.
"All it is right now is an exploratory stage from the FAI, finding out what clubs are interested, and then from there they will let us know what the requirements are.”

The key detail I took from reading the article earlier. I suppose the National League as the Third Tier will be the only show in town for a few years but a tier between the First Division and National League that is more LoI ready than amateur should be high on the agenda. Connecting the National League to regional leagues then will be interesting to see how they crack that nut.

I was only in Baldonnell once but would love to see St Francis back in even if its the third tier. Probably best thing they could introduce is promotion/relegation between 2nd tier & 3rd tier as you only rest on your laurels if finances arent there.

67 applications for the new third tier, with Shamrock Rovers the only LOI side who expressed an interest in a B team.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...387752908.html

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Delegates were told that there have been 67 applications for the new third tier which had been originally styled as another level for the League of Ireland but will effectively function as the top level of the amateur game with no plans for professional contracts to be permitted.It’s believed there is a good regional spread of applications with the exception of parts of Connacht and Ulster; this will raise questions about how to manage the proposed geographical split into a north and south division.

Shamrock Rovers want to bring back their ‘B’ team to compete in the new initiative but other LOI sides have not expressed an interest.
It remains to be seen if their application will be successful if the league is going to be completely amateur; there are details to be worked out around how the third tier will align with the LOI but there are plans for promotion and relegation to exist between the various components of the pyramid.

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lack of interest in connacht ulster is a issue fir regionalisation

B teams should be included from all PD teams with conditions attached so first team players cant feature. The gap between 20s + senior is huge, scrapping 20s and having young lads play men straight out of 17s would be great for them.

Im shocked at the amount of interest from amateur sides tbh. Will grounds have to meet certain standards? Costs of running a club are big, I'd love to see the economics of it.

If Premier clubs don't want to field a B team, I think that's their call in fairness.

67 applicants is mental stuff if true. Be interesting to see how many keep up their interest as details come out. How the third tier aligns with the rest of the LoI seems a pretty basic thing not to have worked out yet; you wonder what else is to be decided, and are the 67 clubs kind of subscribing to updates rather than formally ready to apply

If they can even manage to maintain the interest of 32 clubs, a 16 team North/South split would be ideal.

Peake Villa from Thurles have confirmed they’ve applied

https://x.com/peakevillafc/status/18...455278033?s=46

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Peake Villa from Thurles have confirmed they’ve applied

https://x.com/peakevillafc/status/18...455278033?s=46

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Well done, hope you are accepted.

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Originally Posted by nr637

Well done, hope you are accepted.

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Errr… despite me not being a football club in Tipperary… thanks I guess? :D

52-week 2 year contracts all round!

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Errr… despite me not being a football club in Tipperary… thanks I guess? :D

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Best of luck, the hopes of Tipp now weigh on your shoulders

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Errr… despite me not being a football club in Tipperary… thanks I guess? :D

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Good luck with it all. Don't let the FAI and Tipperary down

Anyone know if there's a Mullingar club among the applicants ?

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Errr… despite me not being a football club in Tipperary… thanks I guess? :D

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Just thanking you m8 for posting the news about Peake Villa from Thurles! :)

What about Termonbarry Alberts?!

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Originally Posted by nr637

Just thanking you m8 for posting the news about Peake Villa from Thurles! :)

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My bad, I should’ve known “Well done, hope you are accepted.” also means “thank you” :D

You just have to search social media to get names of clubs Limerick City, St.Francis and Peake Villa have already been announced!

You could list out a number of progressive Junior League clubs from around the country that are interested. I reckon the FAI will not be surprised by the numbers of interest.

I think that football is moving in the right direction and the popularity has always been growing. Clubs will look at the new third tier National League as a stepping stone for future League progression for their club.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

What about Termonbarry Alberts?!

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They're going to be groundsharing with us. Their rent will fix the wall that was blown down.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

What about Termonbarry Alberts?!

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Genuinely thought of this yesterday and had a good chuckle to myself.

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Errr… despite me not being a football club in Tipperary… thanks I guess? :D

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See this is the problem with clubs like you. No commitment. Unlikely to stay the distance. Pulling out already.

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Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow

Anyone know if there's a Mullingar club among the applicants ?

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If there's 67 applied, you'd have to think that every hole in the hedge acoss the country has put their name down!

67 is crazy. I'd say there wasn't a soul alive who thought it'd be anything like that number. There were plenty on here thought they'd struggle to even reach the 20.

Can't wait until a journalist gets their hands on the full list and we get to see all who's in there. You can be sure there'll be a few genuinely wacky ones in a long list of 67.

Interesting to hear that Peake (don't forget the second 'e') Villa have applied. Am I right in thinking that they're no longer in Dualla, and moved into Thurles town a few years back? They'll always struggle with a name like 'Peake Villa' IMO, so only a matter of time before history repeats itself and they rebrand as Thurles Town or something instead.

Pretty sure St. Michaels from Tipp Town also were confirmed to have applied.

If it is 67 teams, you would guess nearly every team who you could have imagined has applied.

Be interesting to see the criteria in how they filter the clubs.

67??? Well LoI is now not just cool its sh1t hot! That sort of number gives some real scope to go beyond a 3rd tier and develop a merit based national system that could feed in to the senior game (Im avoiding using pyramid!). Not sure you'd want to have those not included in the third tier to be used to create an additional tier but the leagues that they play in could be canvassed to see if they could feed in. Is it workable that if every side didnt want to be considered for promotion that the next ranked side(s) that do could be in a play-off?

Be interesting to see how/if that undermines the MSL/LSL in particular (given there is no CSL/USL)

If there's that much solid interest, that in itself could push those leagues towards a proper pyramid as a de facto third tier.