Athlone may "drop out of League of Ireland football for the foreseeable future"

**Battery Rover** · 12/12/2008, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

Who were the three teams calling for a shorter season then?

What goes on tour stays on tour. It would be very unprofessional for anyone at that meeting to release details of discussions

**holidaysong** · 12/12/2008, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

What goes on tour stays on tour. It would be very unprofessional for anyone at that meeting to release details of discussions

Fair enough. I thought that'd be your response but it was worth a try.

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Well its more to do with other, non wage, expenses. 22 games means only 11 away games. The implication is that gates would barely cover expenses for home games (security etc)

I suppose, yeah. Seems to defeat the purpose of having a football club though.

On the original post though - what are Athlone's plans if they do decide to drop out of the league for a while? (Taking aside obviously that the situation is probably hyped up a bit to get public response). Can they enter the LSL? Is there any money in that? Can they service their debt outside of the LoI?

**Kingdom** · 12/12/2008, 11:55 AM

I know this is off topic and might seem like wumming but please hear me out....

If clubs wanted a shorter league season (ie 22 games) would it be possible to expand the Setanta Cup into a Setanta League (i.e. encompass all LoI IL teams into groups of 4, winners + runnersup progressing). This would remove the monotony slightly of the league? Just an idea..

**Dodge** · 12/12/2008, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I know this is off topic and might seem like wumming but please hear me out....

If clubs wanted a shorter league season (ie 22 games) would it be possible to expand the Setanta Cup into a Setanta League (i.e. encompass all LoI IL teams into groups of 4, winners + runnersup progressing). This would remove the monotony slightly of the league? Just an idea..

In short, no.

**R�iteoir** · 12/12/2008, 12:15 PM

It'd increase travelling costs as well

**Kingdom** · 12/12/2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

In short, no.

Ok, would you be prepared to pm me the reasons? I don't fancy an ass whupping in public.

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 12:17 PM

Lots of reasons, in fairness.

The top clubs don't want such a reduction, for starters. Four teams groups for an entire season would get very monotonous. The gaps in quality would be large.

**OneRedArmy** · 12/12/2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Lots of reasons, in fairness.

The top clubs don't want such a reduction, for starters. Four teams groups for an entire season would get very monotonous. The gaps in quality would be large.

Who are these top clubs you speak of?!

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

It's hard to tell these days alright, but I would have thought it was reasonably obvious.

**oldyouth** · 12/12/2008, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Player burn out and costs were what was driving him. He fails to acknowledge that he contributes greatly to this player burn out by ignoring and alienating pretty much all the older players in the squad, leaving him playing the same lads in under 18, 20 and first division games. It's the most frustrating thing about Wallace to be honest.

Fully agree with that. I'd hate to see what team he would attempt to field against a top team in a combined league. I'd say his ego might get the better of him and play the kids

**citybone** · 12/12/2008, 1:07 PM

have a 12 team split like they have in the spl and irish league it reduces games from 44 games too 32 the bottom 6 can be ametuer for the second half of the season and top half remain semi pro. thought it would be easier to to have that in the premier division rather than 1st division

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 1:08 PM

There'll be 33 games in the First Division next season. You've just reduced that by one.

Though I like the idea of teams fighting to come bottom half!

**Longfordian** · 12/12/2008, 1:14 PM

Paddy Power would have fun with that one. Huge amounts of money being lumped on both teams to lose.

**Sam_Heggy** · 12/12/2008, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Bad idea when you're talking about Sam I'm afraid.

Hey you aint no picture of perfection yourself ya b*ll*x

**Boh_So_Good** · 12/12/2008, 3:24 PM

Originally Posted by Philly

According to this post on their website:
http://www.athlonetownfc.ie/?p=447#more-447

Just goes to show; the "build it and they will come" analogy is a load of rubbish.

Spot On. Ignorant mutterings from people who do not attend LOI games and never will no matter what.

**blackholesun** · 12/12/2008, 4:02 PM

It sickens me to see a club like Athlone who have good potential for support if in the premier, struggling year after year in the graveyard. I think a 16 or 18 team is the way to go, if we really wanna promote soccer across the country.

Id love to see the FAI "wildcard" Athlone into the Premier next year. There should be a wildcard slot every year out of the first division based on the clubs off the field strucutes / community work. The year in the premier would then be on the basis of the wages etc being scrutinised by the FAI to make sure they are not living beyond their means. The year or two if they survived in the Premier would be a shot in the arm of clubs like Athlone.

bhs

**Youths4Ever** · 12/12/2008, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

I'd say Wexford Youths for certain. Wallace has been making noises about this for ages. Obviously missing the point that the extra home games should be bringing in extra income and that semi-pro and pro teams will have contracts for full year rather than just for season. I suppose Wallace would see the first division as going fully amateur, but, that then makes the step up to, even a semi-pro, premier division extremely difficult.

Wallace was making noises mainly about mid week games as players are amateur and have to get time off work. Making money from the extra home game depends completely on who the extra home game is against and if then have traveling support, can the team playing attract more home support etc there are expensives with home games as well.

IMO playing teams 4 times a year is a bit much gets very repetitive.

I would never see us opt out of cups to be honest Wallace always does well in cup competitions as shown last year.

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Player burn out and costs were what was driving him. He fails to acknowledge that he contributes greatly to this player burn out by ignoring and alienating pretty much all the older players in the squad, leaving him playing the same lads in under 18, 20 and first division games. It's the most frustrating thing about Wallace to be honest.

agree with pushing some of the younger players in to soon

**passerrby** · 12/12/2008, 5:23 PM

Originally Posted by blackholesun

Id love to see the FAI "wildcard" Athlone into the Premier next year. There should be a wildcard slot every year out of the first division based on the clubs off the field strucutes / community work. The year in the premier would then be on the basis of the wages etc being scrutinised by the FAI to make sure they are not living beyond their means. The year or two if they survived in the Premier would be a shot in the arm of clubs like Athlone.

bhs

ya and they would be infulenced by the professilism of the clubs around them