If a few northern clubs were relegated from this season's premier, Fanad could reconsider in 2013, and likewise, if clubs operating on a lower budget still performed well in the league, then Carlow might re-assess their options. You wouldn't need to cap the divisions, because no more than four clubs would be interested, but if it's seen not to be a closed league, then those clubs would once again see the First Division as a viable option between now and 2014.
In fairness, the argument that there aren't teams able to make the step up, I'd easily have Cobh and Tralee (and Carlow playing out of Buckley) ahead of the 2 Galway teams. If they're allowed in, surely the rest should be allowed. There is always teams willing to join the First Division.
It's a mess at the end of the day. The best approach is earning league status on the field of play. Salthill fair play to them retained their first division status a few years ago by defeating Cobh in a play-off.
The A Championship seemed to be a stretch on Premier clubs resources. A Cork supporter stated recently their squad would be too small, no way they'd have a reserve team. Interest in taking part in the A Championship never took off in a few regions where it might have been expected. Unfortunately now a few clubs, including Dynamos, are caught in between.
If a third/intermediary tier is ever looked at again, it'll need at least a dozen first team clubs to make it viable.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined. First Division '14: 7 first teams.
Opportunity lost for new clubs/regions to join the LoI family.
http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/7343/
Interesting article with new Wexford Youths boss who reckons he can get them promoted over the next 2 or 3 seasons.
Also interesting to note they started pre-season with a squad of 28 players!
Good read there. Glad to see some sort of media coverage about the shambles we call a first division.Originally Posted by Trainee
That's what FORAS thought too. We applied for an A Championship license but the FAI advised us to apply for the first. No doubt it helped that we were the only club in Cork (Ramblers in the A already) unlike Galway's situation.
If Tralee or Cobh meet the first division licensing requirements they should be left in. A ten team division is workable, nine's a mess but eight is just a disaster.
the Fai shouldn't be getting away with this its making fools of the clubs in the first division a kids league could drum up more teams to compete.
Agree that Tralee or Cobh should be let in if they get a license, even if it was just one of them. Nine teams in the division isn't a problematic number at all - it gives eight teams to be played four times each, giving a perfectly respectable 32 game season.
Ten teams gives either a 36 game season (which the FAI and some clubs clearly baulk at) or a 27 game season like last year, with all the nonsense of playing some teams twice at home but only once away, and vice versa. 27 games is just too few anyway.
There was 30 games last year. People are complaining that the 28 games we have now is a joke cant see how making it one less makes it better being honest.
Ah yes, my mistake. Don't know where my head was.
My point is still the same though. A nine team division with 32 games is better than a ten team division with 27.
One or two extra games at home can make a big difference for teams with tight budgets, but not drastically I would imagine. The fact we only play seven other teams is what annoys me, the repetition will drive me insane.
I’m not pedantic...I’m merely overly concerned with minute details.
One or two extra home games can mean 5-10 grand for a team struggling financially like Harps. That would mean the world of a difference.
Read your post wrong i thought you were saying that a 10 team league with 27 games was better my mistake
I had read gormacha post wrong and had thought he was saying 10 teams with 27 games was better then 8 with 28 games.....
Some changes confirmed.
Celebrating 130 Years of Athlone Town Football Club - Pride of the Midlands Since 1887
Outside Derry a couple of years ago
When's the last time you reckon Harps took five grand on a home gate??
As for ten grand?!
Talking a good few years I'd say.
Certainly for the first home game of the season before last, there was over 1000 at that. There were a few other games that wouldn't have been far off but mostly well under obviously.
On the other hand you'd make a bit extra out of match sponsorship, ball sponsorship, extra lotto sales, a bit of merchandise etc with the extra game.
Hopefully the slightly shortened season means we're paying wages for less time and it all balances out anyway.
Last edited by Mr A; 17/02/2012 at 3:03 PM.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
^ What he said.
And this from a Limerick fan....Outside Derry a couple of years ago
When's the last time you reckon Harps took five grand on a home gate??
As for ten grand?!
Talking a good few years I'd say.
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