Would this work

**Kildareman** · 21/10/2008, 4:59 PM

Regional leagues would help keep the cost down.
In an 8 team division the games played could range from 28 (x4 per club), 21 (x3 per club) or 14 (x2 per club).
Maybe the season could start in July so that clubs could sign players from Junior clubs.
And if the fixtures were drawn up with a little bit of common sense, then midweek games could be arranged with the least of traveltime/distance.

**fionnsci** · 21/10/2008, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

No you didn't, you said you'd rather have 10 teams overspending than a 16 team Premier. Aren't you the wet ignition

When i said "I'd much rather have 10 teams overspending to compete than 16 or 18." I meant "I'd rather have 10 teams overspending to compete than 16 or 18 teams overspending to compete." Dont twist my words, even if what said wasnt that clear.

**brendy_�ire** · 21/10/2008, 5:01 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Yep, I know we've definitely made a submission in favour of a shorter league season. Anything that keeps wages down really.

We don't really play a longer league compared to that of other countries though. Dunno if it would make sense for the 2 divisions to having differing season lengths.
Bear in mind that a shorter season would be worse for full time clubs who pay their players all year round. Less games would mean less income.

**Battery Rover** · 21/10/2008, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Yep, I know we've definitely made a submission in favour of a shorter league season. Anything that keeps wages down really.

Same here

**jebus** · 21/10/2008, 5:22 PM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

When i said "I'd much rather have 10 teams overspending to compete than 16 or 18." I meant "I'd rather have 10 teams overspending to compete than 16 or 18 teams overspending to compete." Dont twist my words, even if what said wasnt that clear.

**Lim till i die** · 21/10/2008, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

A few clubs in the 1st Division are of the opinion the league has too many games a season. Better of with a first division of 12 and playing 22 games a season and along with league and fai cup it would become more sustainable. Most teams struggle with wages after about the 20th week of the season and this might help

It would give teams more time to build and develop academies to bering players through

Yep, I know we've definitely made a submission in favour of a shorter league season. Anything that keeps wages down really.

Ridiculously small time lads.

Reminds me of Bart Simpson going to school in Cypress Creek.

By the by, the reason Athlone and Longford have trouble paying wages is because they offer ludicrous wages.

**pineapple stu** · 22/10/2008, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Ridiculously small time lads.

By the by, the reason Athlone and Longford have trouble paying wages is because they offer ludicrous wages.

Would tend to agree alright. Wouldn't have a problem with, say, two 12-team First Divisions to save on travelling costs (assuming enough teams of enough quality can be found), but if you know what your wages budget is at the start of the year, you shouldn't be overshooting it. Making the season shorter sounds like Platinum One giving out more prize money being the solution to all the league's financial ills, to be honest.

**Longfordian** · 22/10/2008, 12:18 PM

Ah yeah I know what ye mean, I certainly don't think there's anyone to blame if we're having difficulty paying wages except ourselves. This year's budget was a little optimistic in hindsight but it wasn't crazy, there were a few things that fell through which would have covered any shortfall. One player in particular is/was on ludicrous money for what he gives but that was a legacy of the Premier Division. We've only one player I think under contract for next year so we'll have a smaller budget next year one way or another. Some of our best players this season have been our lower paid ones or even amateurs strangely enough.

**pineapple stu** · 22/10/2008, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by fionnsci

Such a large Premier Division is simply not sustainable in Ireland. I'd much rather have 10 teams overspending to compete than 16 or 18.

Just coming back to this (now that I think I see what you mean), you're making a fairly large assumption here that First Division clubs don't overspend too.

**Lim till i die** · 22/10/2008, 10:58 PM

From a purely selfish point of view a shorter first division would also serve to kill Limerick stone dead.

We're competing for players with some pretty hefty junior clubs in town (at least four of whom would be bigger than some first divisin clubs) and it's hard enough trying to convince them of the glamour of trips to Wexford et al without telling them we could only pay them for 22 weeks.

Also it would make the step up to the Premier Division nigh on impossible for any side which does win promotion.

Sorry lads, crap idea IMO

**Mr A** · 23/10/2008, 9:07 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

We're competing for players with some pretty hefty junior clubs in town (at least four of whom would be bigger than some first divisin clubs) and it's hard enough trying to convince them of the glamour of trips to Wexford et al without telling them we could only pay them for 22 weeks.

On the bright side, when they do go to Wexford they don't have to do anything.

**Ash** · 23/10/2008, 9:48 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

By the by, the reason Athlone and Longford have trouble paying wages is because they offer ludicrous wages.

No ludicrous wage offers this season

**Lim till i die** · 23/10/2008, 4:32 PM

Originally Posted by Ash

No ludicrous wage offers this season

Then why the trouble paying??

**KevB76** · 23/10/2008, 5:13 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

On the bright side, when they do go to Wexford they don't have to do anything.

We're not allowed use the bright side in Wexford

**KevB76** · 23/10/2008, 5:19 PM

On the subject of a regionalised 1st division, I dont buy into the idea it will save clubs any significant money.
I mean how much is a club likely to save by travelling 2 hours away compared to travelling 4 hours away?

Furthermore, a regionalised league just doesn't have the same appeal.
Some of us actually enjoy the trips to far off corners of the country!

**Longfordian** · 23/10/2008, 5:19 PM

I don't think our proposal was anything like 22 weeks LTID. I don't know the ins and outs but it was only playing the season over a few weeks less, say 36 weeks instead of 40.

**Dodge** · 23/10/2008, 6:04 PM

Get rid of that stoopid summer break

**brianw82** · 20/11/2008, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Get rid of that stoopid summer break

Absolutely agree. This, coupled with the fixtures schedule, can leave teams without a gate for 5-6 weeks. Teams like Bray, Harps, Sligo etc are crucified by it. Our Liverpool Legends game during the break this season was apparently the only thing that stopped us from going under, because it was our only gate money for over a month.