16 Team Premier Division / Winter Season from 2012/13 TODAY'S DAILY MAIL

**blueblood** · 24/11/2010, 6:56 PM

Was in the Daily Mail today that they'll be voting on whether or not go with a 12 team prem, no mention of 16 team prem tho

**gufcfan** · 25/11/2010, 5:58 AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-2434748.html

Top flight expansion set to be capped at 12 teams

Thursday November 25 2010

CLUBS and officials lobbying for the introduction of a considerably enlarged League of Ireland Premier Division are set to be disappointed after the National League Executive Committee confirmed their intention to extend the top flight to just 12 teams.

However, all plans were on hold last night after a meeting of senior clubs in Abbotstown dragged on amid disagreements over the make-up of the First Division. The final decision will be made by the FAI Board of Management on December 10.

There are currently 10 teams in the top flight, and that is now set to rise by two for the 2012 campaign. It is envisaged they will each play each other twice before the league splits into two after 22 games, with the teams in the respective halves encountering each other twice more in the final run-in.

The NLEC, who met earlier in the day, came to the table with a proposal that the second tier would be divided into two regional leagues of eight, with senior sides from the 'A' Championship bumped up a tier to make up the numbers.

Yet that suggestion was opposed by the meeting, with a nationwide First Division with an undetermined amount of teams set to operate from 2012 onwards.

The news that a 12-team top flight is on the cards has angered those in the nether regions of the Premier Division and top half of the First Division who had argued that a 14 or 16 team competition would offer greater stability, and remove the repetition of fixtures which they believe affects attendances.

A 16-team top flight would also have guaranteed a regional spread compared to the current Dublin-centric league, with no Munster representation again in 2011.

Some clubs at the meeting argued that the league should gradually work towards extending the Premier Division to a 14 team competition by 2014 or 2015.

It seems likely that three teams will be promoted from next year's First Division with the bottom team in the Premier relegated.

- Daniel McDonnell

Irish Independent

Didn't see this coming myself...

**osarusan** · 25/11/2010, 8:25 AM

Spiltting into two.......Top six and bottom six......Back to 1991 again......Regionalised first division......Sweet Jesus, please let this be a joke.

I couldn't even think of less attractive plans.

**BonnieShels** · 25/11/2010, 8:36 AM

It's rubbish. And you're still playing some teams 4 times. Absolute balls.

**pineapple stu** · 25/11/2010, 8:39 AM

And now you'll play some three times at home and once away (or vice versa)

**Louth4sam** · 25/11/2010, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And now you'll play some three times at home and once away (or vice versa)

You play every team once home and away. Then play 5 games home and away. So you can only play each team at the most twice at home.

Don't think this is a good idea. It will make the strong teams stronger and the weak teams weaker. Teams like bray, UCD, Galway etc that are likely to be in the bottom half will miss out in a lot of big gates as they won't be playing the likes of Rovers, Bohs, Pats Dundalk, Derry

**osarusan** · 25/11/2010, 8:52 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And now you'll play some three times at home and once away (or vice versa)

How so? Once home and away before the split, and the same again after the split? What am I missing?

**Mr A** · 25/11/2010, 8:54 AM

Bloody hell.. there are some stupid ideas in that article. I guess some of the 'big' clubs just couldn't face the idea of playing the little guys too often.

**Macy** · 25/11/2010, 8:59 AM

Nonsense plan - worst of all worlds.

**Dodge** · 25/11/2010, 9:09 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Bloody hell.. there are some stupid ideas in that article. I guess some of the 'big' clubs just couldn't face the idea of playing the little guys too often.

How many teams consider themselves big enough for the bottom 6 not to be a worry? I despair for clubs if thye vote for this mess.

The bottom 6 was depressing as hell...

**BonnieShels** · 25/11/2010, 9:11 AM

At last its consistent with the usual ******** that the FAI get up to.

**pineapple stu** · 25/11/2010, 9:12 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

How so? Once home and away before the split, and the same again after the split? What am I missing?

Sorry, yeah - it's slightly different to the SPL split. It happens there cos the split is after the third round, not the second round. Disregard...

**BonnieShels** · 25/11/2010, 9:19 AM

As a thought could us at foot.ie thrash out a submission? And send it to the Executive.
I found my plan last night.

**Dodge** · 25/11/2010, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

As a thought could us at foot.ie thrash out a submission? And send it to the Executive.
I found my plan last night.

There as many nutjobs here as there are involved in the league's/club's administration

**Louth4sam** · 25/11/2010, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

How many teams consider themselves big enough for the bottom 6 not to be a worry?

Probably just rovers if we're honest. A bad run of form or bad luck and any other team could finish 7th even if there is only a point or two between them and the pack in front. It will be very difficult to pay wages if the season is effectively over in August. This is a terrible idea all round

**BonnieShels** · 25/11/2010, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

There as many nutjobs here as there are involved in the league's/club's administration

But we can employ a sh1t filter.

**Dodge** · 25/11/2010, 9:32 AM

Originally Posted by Louth4sam

Probably just rovers if we're honest. A bad run of form or bad luck and any other team could finish 7th even if there is only a point or two between them and the pack in front. It will be very difficult to pay wages if the season is effectively over in August. This is a terrible idea all round

Even Rovers are only at that level this year.

Thats why I can't see clubs voting for it. But then at every stage they seem to suprise me with how thick they can be

**gufct** · 25/11/2010, 9:38 AM

This is the death knell for LOI . I just despair at the thinking behind it can the clubs inside the pale not afford the extra travel Bill now that the carbon tax is doubled.Even Fianna Fail couldnt make a worse job of it absolute ****e

**SwanVsDalton** · 25/11/2010, 9:45 AM

Woke up to 'Size Of A Cow' by the Wonder Stuff on the radio and now I read this - is it actually 1991? The idea is a groan inducing disaster, sure to guarantee more league tinkering disruption for the next few years at least.