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

**nigel-harps1954** · 23/11/2011, 11:02 PM

About time we had a local league derby..

**Guitd** · 23/11/2011, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by culloty82

Today's Kerryman reports that five clubs are applying for the new First Division licences - presumably Tralee, Carlow, Cobh and Fanad are four of the five, not sure what club would be strong enough to be the fifth. Also, an FAI convention will be held in early December to decide on the League format and clubs involved - does that mean an election based on the FAI's recommendations?

maybe its another galway team tuam? maybe athenry ? we could have our own little mini league over hear in galway

**BonnieShels** · 23/11/2011, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

About time we had a local league derby..

Sligo and Derry not enough... oh, wait!

Originally Posted by Guitd

maybe its another galway team tuam? maybe athenry ? we could have our own little mini league over hear in galway

If it goes regional, you will.

**Terry** · 24/11/2011, 2:01 AM

Was in westport at the weekend and they were talking about the first division licences also?

**Charlie Darwin** · 24/11/2011, 6:20 AM

I hope the mystery fifth team is Manchester United. An Irish club we can all get behind.

**OneForTheFuture** · 24/11/2011, 7:29 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I hope the mystery fifth team is Manchester United. An Irish club we can all get behind.

Talking thru your Hoop there Charles.......You surely mean Celtic, no?

**Macy** · 24/11/2011, 7:45 AM

Originally Posted by trevy

John Delaney was on WLR local radio last week and said he didn't think there would be a 16 team premier division next season and would favour maybe a 14 team premier after that and regionalised first divisions. He said this would depend on licences of course. He also said he throught it was mad that there was 3 Galway teams in the league.

14 team league would surely be the worst possible outcome?

**Dodge** · 24/11/2011, 9:33 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

14 team league would surely be the worst possible outcome?

Without being all 'legendz' about it, I'm having trouble trying to figure out how the seaosn would work.

26 games - play each other twice
39 games - play three times (7 teams getting one more home game than the rest)
38 games - play twice, split into 7/7 and then those 6 twice again

All three are horrible prospects

**cornflakes** · 24/11/2011, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Without being all 'legendz' about it, I'm having trouble trying to figure out how the seaosn would work.

26 games - play each other twice
39 games - play three times (7 teams getting one more home game than the rest)
38 games - play twice, split into 7/7 and then those 6 twice again

All three are horrible prospects

Just play once after the split, it would give you 32 games, a small amount of games after the split would probably keep the run in interesting in the top and bottom half

**Dodge** · 24/11/2011, 11:38 AM

Still gives you 3 home games against some teams, 2 against others.

**cornflakes** · 24/11/2011, 11:56 AM

It would give 1 home and 1 away game against the teams in the opposite half
2 home/1 away games against three teams in your half and 2 away/ 1 home games against the other three.

I agree no way is perfect with 14 teams, I just think less games after a split will give a better chance of keeping it interesting for most teams and fans

**osarusan** · 24/11/2011, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

All three are horrible prospects

Nightmarish stuff.

That 'split' is probably the worst idea to ever happen in Irish football.

**KevB76** · 24/11/2011, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by culloty82

Today's Kerryman reports that five clubs are applying for the new First Division licences - presumably Tralee, Carlow, Cobh and Fanad are four of the five, not sure what club would be strong enough to be the fifth. Also, an FAI convention will be held in early December to decide on the League format and clubs involved - does that mean an election based on the FAI's recommendations?

I heard (from reliable source) that Fanad have withdrawn their application.

**Dodge** · 24/11/2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

Nightmarish stuff.

That 'split' is probably the worst idea to ever happen in Irish football.

Just like it was in the early 90s. Stooopid LImerick and stoopid waterlogged pitches

**culloty82** · 24/11/2011, 1:30 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

Was in westport at the weekend and they were talking about the first division licences also?

Maybe, but the only reason Castlebar withdrew was because of the uncertainty over the A Championship, so maybe they want back in now that the divisions will be more certain. As legendz says, it's hard to see past Cobh for the first place when they came so close in February.

**legendz** · 24/11/2011, 2:49 PM

14 would be one of the worst outcomes. As things stand at the moment it'll be 12 after the Mons play-off win. The only expansion worth considering after that is to 16. I'd like to see the FAI press ahead with 12 for the Premier Division as it stands. If there's an expansion to 16 in the pipeline, let all first division clubs battle for that next season.

**Macy** · 24/11/2011, 7:43 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

14 would be one of the worst outcomes. As things stand at the moment it'll be 12 after the Mons play-off win. The only expansion worth considering after that is to 16. I'd like to see the FAI press ahead with 12 for the Premier Division as it stands. If there's an expansion to 16 in the pipeline, let all first division clubs battle for that next season.

Agree the only expansion that makes sense is 16. However, not as convinced by the need for the opportunity for a lot of first division teams to overspend. An unexpected change is nearly better in that regard.