All-Ireland League Thread

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01/11/2019, 1:08 PM
redobit

I always thought that it would be a good idea to run and AIL on a trial basis. Clubs could sign up for say 3 years and if its not working out then go back to the way it is now. No harm no foul. It might be an incentive to get NI clubs backing, knowing it is a trial and up for review in the future.
01/11/2019, 1:10 PM
marinobohs
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Random relegation regardless of final position is about the only 'improvement' the FAI haven't considered. Don't knock it. You just know someone in there will think it's a great idea.:rolleyes:

As I see it, the AIL proposal boils down to three options, in order of likelihood:

It's dead in the water.
Lucid scales back the project to the LoI only. Which means losing c.40% of the potential all-island TV audience, plus whatever overseas audience that includes. I doubt his investors would accept a diminished potential return unless they reduced their investment proportionally, so how much better off clubs would be compared to now is debatable.
Lucid provides enough specific financial detail to entice some Northern clubs to break away and join an AIL. And pigs'll fly.
Pretty accurate call, and the likelihood now

(1) 90%
(2) 9%
(3) the rest.
01/11/2019, 1:25 PM
sullanefc

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

A league where, for example, Ballymena come 14th, Coleraine come 13th, but Bohs in 12th get relegated instead would be a pretty stupid league.

One way around that would be a conference style system. 1 north and two south. One relegated from each conference.
01/11/2019, 1:34 PM
El-Pietro

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Pretty damning if even half of it is true unfortunately.

Also - the eircom League?! That takes me back!

Eircom got some value out of that sponsorship deal. It doesn't even exist as Eircom anymore!
01/11/2019, 3:28 PM
Mr_Parker

Quote:

Originally Posted by redobit

I always thought that it would be a good idea to run and AIL on a trial basis. Clubs could sign up for say 3 years and if its not working out then go back to the way it is now. No harm no foul. It might be an incentive to get NI clubs backing, knowing it is a trial and up for review in the future.

So, for example, NIFL tears up their current TV and sponsorship deals, and then just go back in 3 years time and all would be Ok? Oh, and clubs create a fulltime set up at considerable expense, sign players on that basis, and then just revert if it doesn't work? I could go on, but I think you will get my point.
01/11/2019, 4:40 PM
pineapple stu

Quote:

Originally Posted by sullanefc

One way around that would be a conference style system. 1 north and two south. One relegated from each conference.

Basically amounts to the same thing though
01/11/2019, 4:40 PM
thebronze14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

So, for example, NIFL tears up their current TV and sponsorship deals, and then just go back in 3 years time and all would be Ok? Oh, and clubs create a fulltime set up at considerable expense, sign players on that basis, and then just revert if it doesn't work? I could go on, but I think you will get my point.

So what you're saying Mr Parker is that you're on the fence over the whole all Ireland league thing 🤔
01/11/2019, 4:55 PM
sullanefc

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Basically amounts to the same thing though

Optics stu. Optics.
01/11/2019, 5:04 PM
pineapple stu

Maybe. But it'd look daft as a concept anyway I think. As it does in the States.

Bottom line is I don't think you can - or should - agree a set ratio of IL/LoI clubs in an AIL. It's either a proper league or it's not.

The further problem with Lucid, as I see it, is that the second tier would have been done on a federation basis, not a regional basis. That's really awkward. You could have Harps in the First Division South for example, and if two LoI teams got relegated, then what happens? In a regional split, a middling team geographically will move division, but you can't do that here. So you either promote two LoI clubs - and no IL one - or you relegate an extra IL team from the second flight. But was there even a third tier in all this to start with?
04/11/2019, 9:48 AM
nr637

On the issue of finance, Lucid said: "We made it clear to the clubs that two broadcasters are interested, with one ready to do a deal right now in verbal discussions we have had.
"Headline sponsors are also interested, but it's hard for specific deals to be done at this stage without knowing whether a TV deal will be a pay TV deal or have a free-to-air aspect. It makes sense to secure a TV deal first."

Who are the TV broadcasters interested, RTE, UTV, BBC NI, SKY, VIRGIN.............
04/11/2019, 9:54 AM
WeAreRovers

https://watch.dazn.com/en-GLOBAL/sports/
05/11/2019, 9:19 AM
Mr_Parker

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50297634
05/11/2019, 10:41 AM
disgruntled

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinobohs

Pretty accurate call, and the likelihood now

(1) 90%
(2) 9%
(3) the rest.

Agreed. I think its a dead duck.
I always felt that politics would kill this & unfortunately I may be right.
The blazers of the IFA were never going to agree with this no matter what was on offer.
If we could get over the politics then the rest would fall into place but I can't see it happening.
05/11/2019, 11:58 AM
pineapple stu

Is it politics or the lack of a plan of substance that's killed this?

The Premier League broke away from the FA back in 1992, so I don't think the IFA have the power to stop this if clubs want to go ahead.
05/11/2019, 12:00 PM
mrtndvn

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Is it politics or the lack of a plan of substance that's killed this?

The Premier League broke away from the FA back in 1992, so I don't think the IFA have the power to stop this if clubs want to go ahead.

Politics. The substance is there for those with an open mind.
05/11/2019, 12:05 PM
pineapple stu

Substance is either there or not. That's kind of what the word means. If it needs an open mind to "see" it, then it's not there.
05/11/2019, 12:15 PM
mrtndvn

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Substance is either there or not. That's kind of what the word means. If it needs an open mind to "see" it, then it's not there.

Nope. Some people are purposely not seeing it.
05/11/2019, 12:18 PM
pineapple stu

Purposely not seeing what though?

I've already said the vision for the league as set out by Lucid was pretty good. I've seen nothing at all to indicate it was deliverable though.
05/11/2019, 12:26 PM
disgruntled

Quote:

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Is it politics or the lack of a plan of substance that's killed this?

The Premier League broke away from the FA back in 1992, so I don't think the IFA have the power to stop this if clubs want to go ahead.

I would say both to be honest.
Substance in that the Premier League had the money & organisation behind them whereas here although we have the PCA for some years now nothing has ever come from it.
The very reason the FAI are running the League is because the clubs couldn't organise the proverbial.

Politics in that the IFA are black to the core & would have said no, no matter what was on offer.
Like the FA in the UK the IFA & FAI here will have to be dragged kicking & screaming into agreeing with anything.
In reality if this plan had solid finances & agreements in place it would be a no brainer & there would be little either Irish association could do about it.
05/11/2019, 12:35 PM
pineapple stu

"Both" is probably fair enough actually.

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