The Future

[Kildareman]

Looking at the setup of this League and the response to it, it looks more unlikely NOT to be here much longer.

Firstly the Premier Division clubs dont want part of it.

The current financial climate puts added pressure on these clubs.

The Premier will be now 10 teams so thats a reduction of 2 teams in the A Championship. Will Limerick re-enter?? That could be down 3.

That leaves 13 teams for 2 divisions.

Make one division?? That could then cause the smaller clubs to reconsider because of the extra expense in travel.

Am I a prophet of doom or is the future looking this bad for the A Championship?

[pineapple stu]

The Premier will be now 10 teams so thats a reduction of 2 teams in the A Championship.

Not necessarily. We'll be entering for a start.

[L37Ultra]

Not necessarily. We'll be entering for a start.

And I can't see any reason why Limerick wouldn't again

[KevB76]

And I can't see any reason why Limerick wouldn't again

Yeah, our partiticipation in the A's this season appeared to be very beneficial to our first team - match fit players on standby and a good way to try new players or ease injured players back into it.
The cost for Limerick wasn't too bad - there were travel costs and refs fees, but player wages were little or nothing.
I'd be very surprised if we were not in it again next year.

I think the A championship is a great concept and its first season was pretty succesful imo, for Mervue making the step up if nothing else.

[Dodge]

From what I'm hearing the A league will definitely hang around. A number of clubs are looking to abolish the u21 league and replace it with a national u18 league.

Could be a runner apparently

[pineapple stu]

A number of clubs are looking to abolish the u21 league.

U-20s, do you mean?

What's the advantage of a national U-18 league over a regional U-20 league?

[Dodge]

Sorry, u20 league.

The point some clubs are making is that their u20 and A teams are basically the same.

I'd assume that the u18 league will be regionalised to save costs, but have a national champion (as with A and u20 leagues)

[Mr A]

There is a lot to be said for that idea.

Not least that maybe then UCD wouldn't win the fecker every year.

[pineapple stu]

"Every year" out of one isn't really that impressive a record.

Though I have to laugh when I think back to the Cork fans (well, GavinZac) at the start of the year pointing out how removing the underage restriction would make them great in comparison to us.

[sadloserkid]

The U20s league is U19 next season if one of our coaches is to be believed.

[Battery Rover]

The U20s league is U19 next season if one of our coaches is to be believed.

Have heard that and then possibly dropping to Under 18s the following season. An Under 18 league would benefit Athlone as we have a good Under 17 squad who to play against good quality sides are in the DDSL and that costs us close on 30k a season to keep going

[HarpoJoyce]

Have heard that and then possibly dropping to Under 18s the following season. An Under 18 league would benefit Athlone as we have a good Under 17 squad who to play against good quality sides are in the DDSL and that costs us close on 30k a season to keep going

It would fit the structure of some East Coast clubs who have teams in the Dublin District Schoolboy League
U18 Super Division
http://www.a2zsoccer.com/index.cfm/l...div_id/3076520

List of DDSL 11-a-side divisions.
http://www.a2zsoccer.com/index.cfm/l...id/3076442.htm

List of other Regional Schoolboy Leagues
http://www.a2zsoccer.com/index.cfm/loc/3.htm

I don't know how committed the eircom League clubs are to the under-age set-up. I have heard some stories which may be discribed as lethargy or favoritism at best. Maybe affiliated/associated clubs is the better dedicated option to supply the Senior club (forgive term) with talent.