Got this from the LOI thread....
There's a report by Philip Quinn in today's Irish Daily Mail saying that the 22 League of Ireland clubs met in Athlone on Monday night last regarding the structure of the LOI. The outcome of the meeting was that the clubs voted on a majority of 12-9 (one club must not have attended or didn't vote) to change the following:
- Summer Soccer gone to be replaced by a Winter Season from August 2012
- Premier Division to increase from 10 to 16 teams from end of 2011 season
- Setanta Cup to be run-off during the month of July specifically to help the teams that qualify for Europe
There would be no relegation at the end of 2011, and the top six clubs in the First Division will be promoted to the new 16 team Premier. The bottom six in the First Division will link up with 'A' league clubs and form a new second tier division. Suggestions that the 'A' league would then be scrapped or revamped as the second tier division.
No metion on what clubs will do from the end of next season (Nov 2011) until August 2012. I don't think you could go with a mini-league from February to May as the League Champions won't get European football as the Nov 2011 League Champions will be playing in the 2012/13 European competitions.
Also, the tightness of the vote suggested that there is a big split as to what this is what ALL the clubs really want. However, the findings from Monday's meeting of the clubs in Athlone is going to be presented to John Delaney and the League of Ireland Executive Committee at their meeting in Dublin tomorrow (Thursday). If they ratify it, the new 16 team Premier League will kick-off in August 2012.
As I said apologies if this has been posted elsewhere and I missed it.
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