Originally Posted by
EatYerGreens
We have a fundamental problem in Irish football. If we go down the pyramid route, we end up with teams that are good on the pitch at an intermediate level but will struggle at a senior level - and invariably have no fans. Worst still they'll end up all being from the same place - like the one time when we actually did have a pyramid and we ended up with 3 clubs in Galway city. Ridiculous. So it's all very well to say that the pyramid route works everywhere else - we're not everywhere else. We have a small population, and football is only one of 4 domestic sports that attract good crowds (with football actually being the 4th best-supported of those). Nowhere else in Europe has that situation.
Conversely - the approach we've tried for years of waiting until someone goes bust, and then giving their space to whoever just happens to want it at the time hasn't exactly worked for us either. The only expansions that have worked IMO have been 1984 and 1985 - which were part of a planned process. 1984 saw Cork and Longford join - both of whom are still in the league. 1985 saw Bray, Derry, Cobh, Monaghan, EMFA and Newcastle join - half of whom are still in the league 35yrs later, and 2 further lasted over 20yrs and may some day return. There has never been a period of such major numerical expansion in the LOI since it was formed, and it has also resulted in 5 long-lasting teams being introduced to the league. So the bottom line for me is that planning new entrants is the key.
So this is what I would do if I was the FAI :
1) Conduct an analysis of locations around the country which don't currently have an LOI team, but on-paper would have a chance of making one last. Looking at population, strength of the game locally vs other sports, distance form existing LOI teams etc. (e.g. Navan, Tralee, Mullingar, Castlebar, Tullamore ?)
2) Look at what existing junior or intermediate clubs in that area could have the potential to take the step up over time. i.e. are well-run, ambitious, have decent facilities - or at least have some of those qualities.
3) Approach those clubs directly, say that the FAI wants the League to expand to X teams by 2025 and Y teams by 2030, and ask would they be interested in being one of a number of 'contender/candidate clubs' for that. That's not a commitment from either those clubs or the FAI that they WILL join the LOI btw. Just a commitment that they'll go on a journey together to improve themselves so they're in a position where they could potentially join in the future
4) For those who are interested - develop a clear strategy for what they are currently good at and less good, and what they need to do to get themselves ready for the senior game in either 5 or 10 years time. FAI funding would help with the facilities aspect, but the clubs would also be expected to raise their own money to show they can become sustainable. They should also be helped on youth academies, revenue-generation, etc etc
5) Review the progress of these clubs on a regular basis, and not be afraid to say to any of them where they're under-performing, or if it just isn't going to happen for them realistically.
6) Let these clubs enter the League Cup automatically after a few years, to start blooding them against senior opposition. And also hold an annual tournament amongst all the candidate clubs to encourage them all to step up vs each other.
7) By the start of the 2024 season everyone involved should be clear on if and who is ready to join the league the following season, And again in 2028/2029 for the clubs that join in 2030.
8) The clubs that go through this process - all or part of the way - will be left in a better position as a result, even if they don't join the LOI. Football will have been improved even if it ends up adding no-one to the league.
So that's my proposal to square the current circle of saying we should have a pyramid, when it clearly won't work, but the current situation isn't working either. Let's create a strong and credible conveyer belt of candidate clubs in a strategic plan with long-term timescales. Let's encourage new clubs in fertile ground where they have at least a reasonable chance of growing sustainable support bases and succeeding. No more Mervues, NewcastleWests or St Francis's please.