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

**harps1954** · 10/12/2010, 8:39 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

It'll be crazy for Division One clubs to vote for a regional league.

No club will be voting for it as it's the FAI and the FAI alone who will be making the decision - the club's have no real say in it.

Remember, the club's have already put their proposals to the FAI (a sixteen team Premier) but the FAI's response was to go with a 12 team PD with the split mid-season and then a regionalised FD.

**harps1954** · 10/12/2010, 8:40 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

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.

There were due to be meetings held over the last week or so, but were cancelled twice because of the poor travelling conditions. I think there is a meeting scheduled for next week but not sure which day.

**legendz** · 10/12/2010, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

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.

This is my understanding as well. An article in the Indo a few weeks ago said there'll be a meeting today, 10th of December.

**legendz** · 10/12/2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by harps1954

No club will be voting for it as it's the FAI and the FAI alone who will be making the decision - the club's have no real say in it.

Remember, the club's have already put their proposals to the FAI (a sixteen team Premier) but the FAI's response was to go with a 12 team PD with the split mid-season and then a regionalised FD.

What was the clubs proposal for the First Division?

**Sam_Heggy** · 10/12/2010, 6:44 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

What was the clubs proposal for the First Division?

Introduce a new pyramid system with a guaranteed 30 games for each side.

**Dodge** · 10/12/2010, 6:49 PM

Any mention of league cup?

**Sam_Heggy** · 10/12/2010, 6:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Any mention of league cup?

Giving that the Champions League place to re-generate the competition.

**legendz** · 11/12/2010, 9:07 AM

Ha ha, I'm sure that proposal is top of the agenda!

Some reckon the number of games doesn't matter but the 26 games a 14 team Premier would give would be too few.
One thing that could be done however, if they could run two national divisions, both the Premier and First Division with 14 clubs in each, the League Cup could be revamped to 7 groups of 4, home and away in the groups. Top 2 in each group and the best two third placed sides to go through to the last 16. A final in the Aviva with a Europa League place on offer. It'd guarantee each club 16 home games, between League and League Cup. Division One clubs will get two home games against Premier opposition, giving them more high profile games than they get at present.

I've yet to see a good format for the First Division in any new structure.

**Sam_Heggy** · 11/12/2010, 11:20 AM

Oh
Sweet
Jaysus

**legendz** · 11/12/2010, 6:36 PM

There's a whole lot more!

**passerrby** · 11/12/2010, 6:45 PM

I bloody hope not

**paudie** · 11/12/2010, 7:11 PM

Jeez, I hate the plan to split the Prem division after 2 series.

**gael353** · 11/12/2010, 7:39 PM

the prem split thing is stupid but the regionalised first division is the wakiest thing ever. It would be the death of any present day first division club, as crowds wouldnt exactly flock to see monaghan Vs fanad utd or limerick v carlow town for example. Im sure this is the plan to get rid of clubs and just have a top tier in 4 years or something of 14 teams i have faith in those clever chaps in the FAI

**Dodge** · 11/12/2010, 7:51 PM

Originally Posted by gael353

the prem split thing is stupid but the regionalised first division is the wakiest thing ever. It would be the death of any present day first division club, as crowds wouldnt exactly flock to see monaghan Vs fanad utd or limerick v carlow town for example.

IS it any less appealing than, say, Monaghan v Limerick ?

**Jofspring** · 11/12/2010, 8:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

IS it any less appealing than, say, Monaghan v Limerick ?

I'd have to say yes. Monaghan and Limerick are more established in the LOI and would be a lot more competitive than Carlow or Fanad.

I've said it before, i would have no problem with Fanad, Carlow, Tralee etc.. being in the first division as it would give a great spread around the league. The main problem would be playing these teams at home twice a season. I would think for example Limerick vs Shels once a season would draw a bigger crowd for us than the two Limerick vs Tralee games put together and the cost of holding one game would be less than the two.

**nigel-harps1954** · 12/12/2010, 5:06 AM

No harm here to the clubs, but Fanad Utd being in the first division would most definitely be attracting as much of a home crowd as ANY of Salthill, Mervue, Longford, Monaghan or Wexford.
There is a very very large area of a fanbase from which Fanad can choose from, very little of which in that area even recognise Harps and would rather watch and Ulster Senior League game of Fanads.
So yes Gael353, there is as much interest there as anywhere.
I would most welcome Fanad into any such league, and I'm sure the likes of Carlow, Tullamore etc would have as much mass appeal in areas with little or no senior football.
The extension of the league is vital in the league progressing onwards if you ask me. Adding more clubs is not going to kill any existing club. To suggest so makes no logical sense.

**davidatrb** · 12/12/2010, 8:44 AM

I'd be in favour of the fewer games from a financial point of view. Match day expenses are a drain to the smaller clubs in particular. Less games mean that you will get more bang for your buck - each game is that little bit more important and will generate a little more interest and drive up attendances. You could also eliminate midweek games which are invariably in places like Cobh or Ballybofey.

The FAI need to help out with some of the match day costs, I can think of referees for example. I think most professional leagues across the world pay for the refs.

**legendz** · 12/12/2010, 9:35 AM

You're right Paudie, the split plan is ridiculous. They'd want to wait and see how Wales get on with it first.
I think Fanad will have a big support. I hear they have former Derry City and Harps players. Whenever they play either in friendlies, the games are supposed to be competitive enough. nigel-harps1954 is right, they'd attract as much interest as the clubs mentioned. Adding clubs won't kill the league but it shouldn't be affecting the structure in that established clubs have to move to a regional league.
Are fewer games really better for a clubs finances? Matchday income from ticket receipts make up a sizeable percentage of a clubs income. There is issues with support in some areas but this should not mean a reduction in games, especially for well supported clubs. At most if games are reduced, especially to cut down on the midweek games, 4 or 6 games could be shaved off. I don't think they should go more than that.
Will switching more games to Saturday or Sunday afternoons help a clubs finances? I don't think games should clash with live coverage on RTE either. The number of Monoday night games this year on at the same time as MNS was ridiculous as well.
Format discussions are great passerrby!

If clubs are more than an hours drive apart, it might be better to move away from Friday evening kick-offs for these games. People are still lucky enough to have jobs and getting to these games would be easier over the weekend.

**culloty82** · 12/12/2010, 1:43 PM

If Friday's meeting was cancelled, it'll hardly happen before the New Year now - then again, Bray didn't know what division they were in this year until 3 weeks before kick-off, so the 2012 format might be finalised sometime round February.