IL fans view on AIL

**oriel** · 11/08/2008, 11:13 AM

Whats the general view on the proposed All Ireland Lge from our friends in the north*

Personally speaking I think it should only happen when/if the FAI + IFA agree on it and also agree a proprer structure. I would have no time for the current plantium 1 or whatever they are called who are proposing this, they will only waint it on their terms not for th ebeneifti of football on this island. For eg, Limerick 37 and Galway Utd ???? Enough said.

I think the way to go would be an All Ireland Premier of 14 teams based on merit then a Div one north and south with proper promotion of say the two champions and a 3rd place for the winners of a play off between the two divisions.

I think Linfield, Glentoran would be auto choices, would Clifftonville not be within a shout, and also a resrurcuted Portadown ?

There is no way the current Dundalk side would be ready, but maybe when/if the new lge does start in 3 or 4 years time, maybe we will be there.

I think the standard in a 14 team premier would be good and 14 would be just about the right number. But you would have the akward 3 x 13 rounds thing, 12 may work, but it is not too small for an All Ireland lge

Any thoughts ?

**BleusAvantTout** · 14/08/2008, 10:51 PM

Given the reported financial shortfalls affecting Eircom League clubs I believe an AIL is dead in the water at the minute!

**Mr_Parker** · 15/08/2008, 1:48 PM

The current proposals for an AIL are a non starter imo. All sales patter, no substance.

**SMorgan** · 15/08/2008, 8:39 PM

Totally agree.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/f.../eircomleague/

The P1 proposal is absolute nonsense and not even a basis for any sort of agreement on the issue. In my opinion the people that produced P1 proposal clearly don't know what their talking about and it would be madness to let them near our league.

**belfastred** · 19/08/2008, 1:48 PM

Originally Posted by SMorgan

Totally agree.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/f.../eircomleague/

The P1 proposal is absolute nonsense and not even a basis for any sort of agreement on the issue. In my opinion the people that produced P1 proposal clearly don't know what their talking about and it would be madness to let them near our league.

You are 100% right. I do think there is potential for an All -Ireland league but it should be 5 years away with proper planning and structures put in place.

**waide** · 25/08/2008, 2:20 PM

An AIL has to be a must for football both sides of the border,but i do agree proper planning and investment would have to be in place otherwise it is a non starter.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 09/09/2008, 12:50 AM

They will never willingly agree. But then when did logic come into anything?

**Gather round** · 10/09/2008, 7:00 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

They will never willingly agree. But then when did logic come into anything?

Er...plenty of them do agree, including at least one on this thread.

I fear Ardee Bhoy may have overdone the Slivovitz in Podgorica...

**robertob** · 10/09/2008, 8:36 AM

I've a positive view on a envisaged All Ireland League. Because I think it's the one and only way for football in Ireland to get better and more professional structures. It would be in a AIL every matchday great and interesting games wich will give the football a new presence. That implies that more people will watch the games, that implies also more TV and more money by sponsors.

I think a fair split for a AIL will be seven teams of LOI and five of IL for a 12 teams premier division. This gives the AIL the chance to have all great teams of both countries inside.

**Gather round** · 10/09/2008, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by robertob

I've a positive view on a envisaged All Ireland League. Because I think it's the one and only way for football in Ireland to get better and more professional structures. It would be in a AIL every matchday great and interesting games wich will give the football a new presence. That implies that more people will watch the games, that implies also more TV and more money by sponsors.

I think a fair split for a AIL will be seven teams of LOI and five of IL for a 12 teams premier division. This gives the AIL the chance to have all great teams of both countries inside.

Tschuess Robertob.

I hope your plan for the AIL includes FC Kreuzrittern 98 (NordIrlands meister 73, 76, 95, 97)

**jinxy lilywhite** · 10/09/2008, 11:20 AM

I posted this sometime ago on a AIL league "How would you do it". My only amendment is that I have removed teams that I had included.

For me a Premier 16 team play home and away. Personally i'd prefer winter football. We would then have a first consisting of the next best 16 teams consisting of Norht and South. A straight 3 up/ 3 down but we may steal a play off style situation from England in the First division. The bottom team of this league will be immediately relegated.
A third tier to be set up on a provinicial basis where the winners will enter into a round robin league and the winners will qualify to the first. The relegated team from the first will go into their provincial league
Strict guidelines to be introduced to each club in relation to promotion, expenditure, wages. I would even go as far as cut the wage cap from 65% to 50% and enforce that a certain % of the remiander can be invested by clubs into youth structures. Admin expenses not to exceed 5% of turnover. Directors loans would be abolished and all income to be made via gate receipts, shirt sales, donations, patron schemes so on and so forth. Also remortgaging of grounds, assests and disolution of fixed assets to have strict guidelines attached too.
Far fetched but i feel every club needs to be involved

**brendy_�ire** · 11/09/2008, 3:11 PM

The majority of IL fans I've spoken to in Belfast seem to be in favour of the idea in principle. Disregarding the current financial status of clubs north and south, most IL fans, from my experience, would support an AIL. One major reservation for them seems to be the travelling involved though.
Yeah, it's a big jump in distances, but it's not hard to do.
Still assumes me that Linfield and Glens fans complain when they're away to Stute, having to travel 'the whole way to Derry'.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 14/09/2008, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Gather round

Er...plenty of them do agree, including at least one on this thread.

I fear Ardee Bhoy may have overdone the Slivovitz in Podgorica...

Would be rather hard, given I wasn't in the country at the time!

**citybone** · 30/09/2008, 12:43 PM

The standard of the IL is worse siple as!

12 Team summer split
9 teams from the republic
3 teams from northern Ireland
Champions play in Champions league qualifiers under LOI seeding
2nd play in UEFA cup under LOI seeding
Continues under LOI UEFA co-effecient.

Relegation:
12th placed club gets relegated to there respective league.
11th placed club has playoff with Champions of IL or EL whoever was not promoted.
Irish league and league of Ireland continues

Irish League premier division
12 Team split summer league.
(Intermediate standard, semi pro or amateur)
Irish cup continues including the 3 AIL clubs, Winners Play in UEFA cup under IL seeding & co-effecient.
2 teams relegated
League cup played with intermediate clubs no AIL clubs top 4 clubs in IL prem get a bye to the second round.

League of Ireland premier division
12 Team split
(Intermediate standard, semi pro or amateur)
FAI cup continues including the 9 AIL clubs, Winners Play in UEFA cup under LOI seeding & co-effecient.
2 teams relegated
League cup played with intermediate clubs no AIL clubs

have 2 13 team IL 1st divisions East and Weat
Have the A championship continue in Ireland with reserve teams from the AIL and the 4 worst clubs in the LOI. take 5 years to implement all this.

The reason why i want summer football and a split is for the AIL to improve in europe significantly

**Steve Bruce** · 30/09/2008, 1:26 PM

]

Originally Posted by citybone

The standard of the IL is worse siple as!

12 Team summer split
9 teams from the republic
3 teams from northern Ireland
Champions play in Champions league qualifiers under LOI seeding
2nd play in UEFA cup under LOI seeding
Continues under LOI UEFA co-effecient.

Relegation:
12th placed club gets relegated to there respective league.
11th placed club has playoff with Champions of IL or EL whoever was not promoted.
Irish league and league of Ireland continues

Irish League premier division
12 Team split summer league.
(Intermediate standard, semi pro or amateur)
Irish cup continues including the 3 AIL clubs, Winners Play in UEFA cup under IL seeding & co-effecient.
2 teams relegated
League cup played with intermediate clubs no AIL clubs top 4 clubs in IL prem get a bye to the second round.

League of Ireland premier division
12 Team split
(Intermediate standard, semi pro or amateur)
FAI cup continues including the 9 AIL clubs, Winners Play in UEFA cup under LOI seeding & co-effecient.
2 teams relegated
League cup played with intermediate clubs no AIL clubs

have 2 13 team IL 1st divisions East and Weat
Have the A championship continue in Ireland with reserve teams from the AIL and the 4 worst clubs in the LOI. take 5 years to implement all this.

The reason why i want summer football and a split is for the AIL to improve in europe significantly

This attitude puts me off wanting any part of an AIL down there.

How about this for a novel idea if there was to be an All-Island league. Your top tear and our top tear in a 1 season bumper league.

The top 12 teams then qualify for the new All-Island league.

Imagine that, a league with 12 teams there on merit rather than percieved our 9th best team is better than the IL 4th best team. Which I do not believe is the case.

**citybone** · 30/09/2008, 1:47 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

]

This attitude puts me off wanting any part of an AIL down there.

How about this for a novel idea if there was to be an All-Island league. Your top tear and our top tear in a 1 season bumper league.

The top 12 teams then qualify for the new All-Island league.

Imagine that, a league with 12 teams there on merit rather than percieved our 9th best team is better than the IL 4th best team. Which I do not believe is the case.

ok but look at the settanta cup cliftonville & glentoran cant get results against the LOI clubs The current system up north with the 12 team split will help the top clubs, though portadown will be a bit behind. the relagation system i suggested that the best clubs would stay up and clubs who are not good enough would go down simple as.

**Steve Bruce** · 30/09/2008, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by citybone

ok but look at the settanta cup cliftonville & glentoran cant get results against the LOI clubs The current system up north with the 12 team split will help the top clubs, though portadown will be a bit behind. the relagation system i suggested that the best clubs would stay up and clubs who are not good enough would go down simple as.

So because of poor showing on the Setanta cup that means that the LOIs 9th best team is better than our 4th?

Could it not just be the case that your top 4 teams are superior to our top 4 teams (bar Linfield

)

I watch quite a bit of LOI football on TV and whilst it is a fair standard, it really doesn�t blow me away. The IL is behind but not light years.

**citybone** · 30/09/2008, 5:31 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

So because of poor showing on the Setanta cup that means that the LOIs 9th best team is better than our 4th?

Could it not just be the case that your top 4 teams are superior to our top 4 teams (bar Linfield

)

I watch quite a bit of LOI football on TV and whilst it is a fair standard, it really doesn�t blow me away. The IL is behind but not light years.

Ok its hard to know really, but lets say our 8th best vs your 5th best?
Bray or Rovers vs Lisburn or Coleraine on current league tables
without these clubs playing each other competitively its hard to know. I could use Uefa Co-effecient as a basis cos yee are good bit behind us but yee are out of season when those games are played and its only your top teams anyway which is the same problem.

**Steve Bruce** · 01/10/2008, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by citybone

Ok its hard to know really, but lets say our 8th best vs your 5th best?
Bray or Rovers vs Lisburn or Coleraine on current league tables
without these clubs playing each other competitively its hard to know. I could use Uefa Co-effecient as a basis cos yee are good bit behind us but yee are out of season when those games are played and its only your top teams anyway which is the same problem.

Basically in a nutshell, whilst I do agree on the whole your league is stronger, the fairest way to make up the top 12 teams in Ireland is to have the two leagues play in a one off season and pick the top 12 from that

**sonofstan** · 01/10/2008, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Basically in a nutshell, whilst I do agree on the whole your league is stronger, the fairest way to make up the top 12 teams in Ireland is to have the two leagues play in a one off season and pick the top 12 from that

I agree with that I think - if nothing else, it would be one madly competitive season; Bray v. Coleraine in vital 12th spot decider!