https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...sion-1.4412407
I'm not 100% certain but I would imagine we wont show any interest.
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https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...sion-1.4412407
I'm not 100% certain but I would imagine we wont show any interest.
The brief glut of applications last week must not have been that impressive to the FAI.
So is the FD turning into the old LoI B Division again?
Not sure at what point does the second tier reach an actionable crisis point?
If you presume the nine current first division teams are not going anywhere and that Rovers are happy to continue there with their B team does that mean the FAI are actively looking to increase the teams in the division? Or was the original invitation to apply in order to take Rovers place?
This is an obvious shortcut to adding to player development pathway but instead of broadening the structures for clubs, where young players can get 1st team competative football, its narrowing things so that a few clubs can both sign up the cream of talent and give them football. It fits nicely in to the SRFC project, likewise for where Dundalk want to get to in trying to be self sustaining and others too especially in regional centres. Makes some of the more unusual overtures to setting up a club to join LoI a bit less..unusual, and it is a selling point for bringing in players from a wider market in hope of cashing in on the odd success. This in mind, the gap between 1st Division and Premier Division clubs politically is only going to widen so this could be a bit of a last stand moment for any remaining integrity of the 1st Div.
I am reasonably confident that Harps will not avail of this option.
How many first team players can play every week ?
Apparently Shelbourne have submitted an application for their First team to avail of the opportunity.
Maybe its time the FAI got real about the league and allowed all clubs have an equal say in the discussions. Would it not be good to see a Limerick team back in the league and maybe a team from the Kildare Carlow Laois area as well as a team from Mayo area. The pushing out of soccer across the country is what should be done and a real effort put into getting a sponsor for it and real media profile for both divisiions.
Surely a move to 2 12 team divisions is the only sensible one going forward.
Premier
Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians
Dundalk
Sligo Rovers
Waterford
St. Patrick's Athletic
Derry City
Finn Harps
Shelbourne
Cork City
Drogheda United
Longford Town
First Division
Bray Wanderers
UCD
Galway United
Cobh Ramblers
Cabinteely
Athlone Town
Wexford
North Sea AFC
YOLO FC
Shamrock Rovers B
Dundalk B
Bohemians Hipster Reserve FC (Not a B team)
A Limerick team applied to join the league prior to the deadline for doing so. They haven't been rejected yet.
No application was received from any teams in Mayo or Kildare/Carlow/Laois. You cant; magic a club up out of thin air. Nor can you make people in certain areas apply to join.
B teams are a bad idea. Playing against them only weakens the reputation of the clubs in the first. How can teams like Galway, Cork or Shels attract new fans when they are playing Dundalk 'B'.
In saying that, there is an obvious problem with underage football in LOI, that the gap between u19 to senior is too big, and there needs to be something inbetween.The aim should be reintroduction of the 'A' league. Or at least a way for clubs to introduce a 'B' team in provencial leagues (that needs an agreement with fixture dates).
10 existing teams plus the 5 or 6 applications they have had plus 3 b teams is 19/20 teams
Division 1 and 2 ...
happy days
They've apparently had 4 applications = Treaty United, St Francis, Yola and Irish Sea. Of those, I suspect that Irish Sea FC is nowhere near a developed enough proposal to let them near the senior game. They don't even have a ground or a single player at this stage.
I have my own suspicion that Irish Sea FC are linking up with Home Farm. Based on absolutely nothing..
Yola FC are effectively looking to take Wexford FC place.
Realistically, we'll probably see just Treaty United in there and another B team and the others being told to try again next year.
I can see it now, another new club “Cork North End B”
12 teams playing 3 times and premier 10 teams playing 4 times or maybe a 2nd division of 10 teams!
Is there anything to be said for a 'Shamrock Rovers II' team being added to the league ?
From my understanding, Rovers ii have been told if any teams apply, their membership might be in trouble, if they have a viable other option, but at the moment we have nothing to worry about because there isn't a viable option, this could change before the start of the season, but who knows
At the moment to add "B" teams seems the only option to increase the number of clubs and thats the only way to go to improve the league and the football scene in the country. If we could just get enough teams to regionalize the second division 16? 8-8 it would be great to go on the way for a third tier, which is very necessary and would help to get smaller towns in. Moreover a regionalized league could be more interesting for Leinster and Munster sides
LEAGUE of IRELAND FIRST DIVISION TABLE- 2025
1. Shamrock Rovers.
2. Shamrock Rovers Reserves
3. Shamrock Rovers B
4. Shamrock Rovers II
5. Shamrock Rovers 2nd XI.
6. Shamrock Rangers.
7. Shamrock Rioters.
8. Ruagirí na Seamroigé.
9. Tallaght Shamrocks.
10.Irish Sea Saint Home Farm Everton Treaty Yola FC*
* (Deducted 22pts for not having the correct colour of corner flags. Not re-elected)
I agree, the current 10 + 6 more between new applicants and B teams and we have the makings of a decent size first division or a regionalized version of it.
The B teams are needed for clubs who are properly investing in their academies as otherwise having developed kids from 12 or 13 (or earlier) you lose them to a lower Premier or first division team who offer them "senior football" before they are ready to play in the First team for their original club.
Premier
Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians
Dundalk
Sligo Rovers
Waterford
St. Patrick's Athletic
Derry City
Finn Harps
Drogheda United
Longford Town
First Division
Cork
Shels
Bray Wanderers
UCD
Galway United
Cobh Ramblers
Cabinteely
Athlone
2nd Division
Wexford
Treaty Utd
St Francis
Shamrock Rovers B
Dundalk B
Bohemians B
North Sea FC
A third tier would add a bit of extra competition to the first division atleast.
i would start with a 15 or 16 team first division next year if possible and let it be known that the top 8 will qualify for the new division 1 the following year with the bottom 7/8 + any new teams making up the division 2.
Maximum of 1 b team in the first division in year two (so the b teams would have their own mini league) as you dont want a first division of 8 teams with 3 of them b teams.
I know that doesnt regionalize things but i think a better standard first division is better then 2 medicore regionalized varients.
I don't know a lot about intermediate football, but from having a look on wikipedia it seems that the Munster league is heavily weighted towards Cork. As is Ulster to Donegal and Leinster to Dublin.
Maybe this level needs to be reformed as-well? Three regional leagues for West, East & South. Clubs that show potential at this level could then make the jump to a properly maintained first division. I still think our goal as a league should be a semi-pro first division and a full pro premier.
All comes down to money again really. Travel cost would be high for that. Would need to be backed by the FAI. Standard wise would be a massive difference between senior clubs and 1st division clubs but i think would be a big step. Your correct in what you are calling for but it needs to be separate form msl/lsl/usl. Needs to be run by the fai. Like an a league type set up based geography. Maybe try rob few clubs from the Irish league too 😂
I really think FAI should be looking to tap into the 3rd level soccer and try get a few more teams like with UCD, great for young players be in a professional set up while studying for a degree.
Ucc
Carlow it
Uuj
Maynooth
Dcu
Tralee
Sligo
Galway
UL
Add in the 3/4 b teams plus likes a Mayo/ Monaghan, Kilkenny, limerick, Kerry.
Would have lots of option for larger leagues or maybe regional lower division etc
That'd be an awful idea in fairness. Irish people have no personal affinity with the educational institutions that just happen to be in their area, and even those who currently or previously attended them have limited emotional ties to them as well. Most spend every weekend getting away from their university town and back to their village in the arse end of nowhere to see the same faces they've seen all their lives and so their mammy can wash their socks for them. So these teams would be pretty much guaranteed to have no support.
Football is supposed to be all about the fans. And Irish football already has enough teams who don't really have any fans.
I am not suggesting that people are forced into the league but surely the objective at the top of the FAI should be to encourage the spread of the game and create conditions that allows and promoites teams to enter the league. Why not have a complete merit based league so that the best team can be proimoted from whatever league they are in as in Germany. I agree that you would need your head examined if you were to put a team in the league unless you had a large fortune that you wanted to make into a small fortune
The FAI has to get serious about the League of Ireland and that means proper sponsors, prizemoney etc. Winning the Premier gets a club pocket money. The only incentive is to get into Europe. The League title should have real value on its own.