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

**redobit** · 07/12/2010, 2:15 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

This line hasn't been commented on yet -

So players who are selected for that can basically forfeit their summer holidays?

Most of them are off 4 months of the year anyway.

**John83** · 07/12/2010, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by redobit

Most of them are off 4 months of the year anyway.

How many teams will have fully pro players next year? I'd have thought it won't be many.

**Dodge** · 07/12/2010, 2:40 PM

Sligo are the only ones trying to say they'll be fully professional next year

**Cabs88** · 07/12/2010, 4:17 PM

one of the big problems with a small league is the lack of variety, playing the same teams every couple of weeks.. as a supporter who enjoys away trips i think a regionalised league will be a terrible move; regardless of cost effectiveness of reduced travel theres nothing better than a few decent away trips in a season

**Louth4sam** · 07/12/2010, 6:52 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Sligo are the only ones trying to say they'll be fully professional next year

We are full time for the 40 weeks of the season. Three of our youth players have just signed professional contracts

**Sam_Heggy** · 07/12/2010, 7:08 PM

And that's the end of that. Could we not just do an FAI and split from the FAI?

**Mr A** · 07/12/2010, 7:38 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

And that's the end of that. Could we not just do an FAI and split from the FAI?

It needed to be said. I'm glad somebody finally did so.

**BonnieShels** · 07/12/2010, 8:28 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

They'll put Shels in the Northern Section to try and get them up, and also basically get one of Cork, Waterford, Limerick . Regionalised first is perfect for the FAI to gerrymander.

Could you really trust the FAI to gerrymander that successfully? I'm sure Limerick will end up in the Northern section because they are north of Waterford and Cork or something equally as sensible.
We will clearly win the First division in 2011 at a canter in September only for the FAI to announce that the top six will go up regardless.

NB. I do not think we will win anything at a canter next season.

**sullanefc** · 07/12/2010, 10:35 PM

Don't like the premier split. The regionalised first division is a good idea IMO. It will keep costs down for clubs and new clubs might be enticed to join. A championship is no loss.

**Mr A** · 08/12/2010, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

Don't like the premier split. The regionalised first division is a good idea IMO. It will keep costs down for clubs and new clubs might be enticed to join. A championship is no loss.

How so? I don't think travel costs are a major element of what makes being in the LOI expensive.

**Macy** · 08/12/2010, 9:11 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Could you really trust the FAI to gerrymander that successfully?

More than I'd trust shels not to bottle it, but that's where putting Limerick in the Northern Section would come in - give FAI plan B.

Originally Posted by Mr A

How so? I don't think travel costs are a major element of what makes being in the LOI expensive.

Insisting on Saturday or Sunday fixtures would probably be a bigger saving, as I believe at least some clubs have to cover lost wages for Friday night long distance games.

**Sam_Heggy** · 08/12/2010, 9:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

It needed to be said. I'm glad somebody finally did so.

They do say, Mr A., that verbal insults hurt more than physical pain. They are of course wrong, as you will soon discover...when I stick this toasting fork in your head

**legendz** · 08/12/2010, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by sullanefc

Don't like the premier split. The regionalised first division is a good idea IMO. It will keep costs down for clubs and new clubs might be enticed to join. A championship is no loss.

I don't like the Premier split either. The regionalised first division, it's good for some but not for all.
To avoid the split, they could keep the Premier as a division of 10, or 12 over 3 series as before, which is a bit messy. Anyways if they did this without a split, they could have the 16 clubs split in division one and keep the A Championship, only inviting 4 up.

Originally Posted by Mr A

How so? I don't think travel costs are a major element of what makes being in the LOI expensive.

If travel costs aren't an issue, why don't they go straight for a 14 or 16 clubs national first division? I don't think many of the newer clubs are ready to take part in a national league. To bring these clubs in, it has to be regional. It's bad for the top 6 in the first division though, I don't think any of them belong in a regional league.

**Macy** · 08/12/2010, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

If travel costs aren't an issue, why don't they go straight for a 14 or 16 clubs national first division?

Because the FAI are clueless?

**legendz** · 08/12/2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Because the FAI are clueless?

I don't think new clubs are ready for a national league is the answer. Are travel costs the reason some clubs are looking to end the A Championship as well or what is the reason for that? Three clubs in Division One field A sides so they must see some benefit from doing so.

**passerrby** · 08/12/2010, 1:05 PM

travel costs were never a major issue while midweek games is. this was used by the fai to try to sell this stupid idea of regionalising the first div while bringing more clubs to founder on the rocks of LOI.
silly plan by silly people, were doomed i tell ya doomed

**BonnieShels** · 08/12/2010, 3:30 PM

More doomed than you'll ever know. In sooth I not know why I am so sad.

Macy, we could surprise you by even bottling bottling-it. Though I suspect we'll leave it to the last kick in the last minute of the last game of the season to make a ******** of it.

**legendz** · 08/12/2010, 6:00 PM

It'll be crazy for Division One clubs to vote for a regional league. Surely clubs would prefer to be part of a Premier of 16. If the come up short and in Division One, I'd have thought they'd go for a national division of 8 below Premier of 16 than the proposed regionalised format.

**Jofspring** · 08/12/2010, 6:15 PM

Midweek games in the First Division is a very lame excuse if thats the line the FAI are going with. I think Limerick had only maybe 2 midweek games last season. Most the time if a first division team plays midweek its a cup game.

**holidaysong** · 09/12/2010, 11:21 PM

Has a decision been made on this yet? I remember reading somewhere that the FAI stated a decision on how many promotion / relegation places would be made by December 10th.