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The current scenario in Bray/Limerick is leading lots of people to blame the FAI and call for them to "help" the league.
Increasing prize money was mentioned but I don't think that will help as clubs will likely start off the year by saying "guaranteed 20k for finishing last (imaging those riches :) ) lets sign up XYZ player and give him a signing on fee"
What could the FAI actually do that would lead to a better league?
100 grand for winning the league. Says it all.
Proper pyramid.
Encourage new clubs to join - get rid of the First Division for starters.
Increase prize money significantly.
Increase penalties for ****wittery significantly (relegation to LSL Sunday 1b or whatever, or a 25k fine)
Get an actual tv deal that provides the clubs with some income.
Proper league pyramid.
Personally I'd be a fan of a wage cap with marquee players and a minimum club developed players rule.
Lodgement of a set amount of months wages before the season starts so there's at least time to try sort everything out if things go wrong.
Blah blah pyramid blah blah blah pyramid.
League tried a pyramid structure before (A Championship) and it didn’t work. Mervue and Salthill promoted to First Division in successive seasons. They brought very little, if anything, to the league. Grounds weren’t up to standard, and crowds were abysmal. Pyramid structure will only work if it’s promoting teams from areas that don’t already have LOI representation - no point in Pike Rovers or Carbury or Athenry or Mayfield or Ferrycarrig or similar junior aide stepping up when those general areas are already represented
The A Championship wasn't a pyramid. It was just another rung in the existing non-pyramid.
The point of a pyramid is that a team can give the LoI a try - and get promoted to the Premier Division, not the graveyard - and know that if it fails, they just get relegated back to where they came from. That's a lot different to what we have now.
Was it Tralee Dynamos who joined the A Championship and then ended up back two or three divisions below where they came from because they had to go back to the bottom rung in their local league? Why would anyone join the LoI if that's what could happen to you?
How about the fai buy each club a 50 seater coach. Immediate saving on travel expenses (surely clubs could get a volunteer to drive bus) they could also maybe use the bus for community work .
Would benefit smaller clubs to a greater extent which appeals to my socialist side
At last some practical suggestions.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Maybe even a double decker that they could put bunk beds into - save on renting accommodation for players?
PS they could also fit a GPS limiter device that the engine could be cut off automatically if the clubs were messing around
Fair enough on A Championship point in one way, but you have to admit that previous path to promotion was a disaster. I think the FAI believed it would be the likes of Tralee to be promoted, not Mervue. Do we need to protect the clubs we have? If so, then can’t have junior clubs from Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Longford or Athlone making the step up. Especially if it’s a case of “sure give it a few go lads and see how it goes”. That’s just the way I see it, maybe it’s just as fair to say “well, you ‘existing club’ hasn’t been good enough to stay in the league, so if you go and rebuild while ‘new club’ gets a chanceQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
As a path to promotion, yep, the A Championship was a disaster. Unquestionably.
I know your point on a new junior side from, say, Wexford stepping up - but if they're better than Wexford Youths, then why not? Why should Wexford Youths have the monopoly on the entire county? There's no evidence they're absolutely the best at doing things there. You need competition to keep people on their toes.
I would rather see a side from, say, Offaly or Tipp where there's no senior team. But would you let, say, Greystones United in alongside Bray Wanderers at the moment? Sure. (They'd have to get a ground of course. Or at least have "plans")
Scrap the First Division. Bring back the A league and regionalise as the league between regional intermediate leagues and the top tier.
16 team Premier. 12 team A north, and same south. Voluntary B teams to make up defecit of teams. Reserve teams can be relegated into regional intermediate leagues. Formation of Connacht SL to go along with MSL, USL and LSL, all of which get an overhaul and run alongside junior leagues across the country. Each of these SL has a top tier of 10/12 teams running alongside A championship season. Pyramid has to go from top to bottom.
Radical overhaul of prize money, affiliation fees, sponsorship, TV deals and an overhaul of cup competitions.
This has all been done to death though on foot.ie.
Connacht Senior League was proposed back in 2012 as part of the ‘Galway Talks’ but there isn’t the interest, some District Leagues play winter season and others play summer. You’d have to get all Senior Leagues to mirror the timeframe of the domestic league season and that ain’t happening
That'd be the point of the FAI enforcing a pyramid system.Quote:
Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy
Yep. The move to summer soccer was one of the most short-sighted moves the FAI ever made. And that's really saying something.Quote:
Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
What he said. More counties around the country don't have a LOI side than do, i'm sure there's plenty of football supporters in those counties supporting EPL sides as sky is the closest thing to good football they have, get the whole country involved and maybe tv sponsorship might become a viable option.
Might also solve the no direct bus from Phibsboro to Tallaght conundrum.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezeikial
Very well said. I was trying to put similar thoughts into a message. A Pyramid is a must.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
It's also been put to the FAI, don't forget.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
But no, painted bus stops all round instead.
Incidentally, has any club got a painted bus stop yet?
Most clubs don't have a bus stop to paint.
They can’t force the existing clubs to behave within the rules, not a hope of getting regional leagues to play ball (pun intended).Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954