FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

**Sean South** · 27/09/2013, 1:24 PM

Are you more interested in watching the oppisition than Harps?

**Dodge** · 27/09/2013, 1:57 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

If we resort to reserve teams, I honestly think I'd completely lose interest. It's depressing enough as it is. All well and good for the bigger Premier teams to have the 12 team Premier and not care about the First division, but I'd guarantee a few changes in opinion if some of those clubs were subjected to this farce for a year of two.

Well, we would be subjected to it. Albeit with our reserve teams...

**nigel-harps1954** · 27/09/2013, 2:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Are you more interested in watching the oppisition than Harps?

Are you only interested in annoying people? Playing the same 7 teams over and over again is pointless and dull. The First division is just horrible to be a part of at the minute.

**legendz** · 27/09/2013, 5:17 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

In Spain, the B team can never play in the same league as the first team, so if Barcelona B won the Segunda Division the next highest team would take their spot, and similarly if Barca were relegated the B team would have to drop to the third tier, although that obviously wouldn't apply in Ireland and the club would need to be replaced or change to an uneven number of teams.

Thanks, you made my point for me!

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Are you only interested in annoying people? Playing the same 7 teams over and over again is pointless and dull. The First division is just horrible to be a part of at the minute.

When it's not the top division, it's out of the limelight and these situations don't get much attention. It's a reason to have a second tier of some form if the Premier does expand. B teams and developing clubs can progress out of the limelight at that level. If a team in the Premier possibly can't sustain their status, if there's a number of teams operating a level below, there's the opportunity for a club to replace them. If a single Premier division loses a club or two, it'll affect the integrity of the league if clubs aren't there to come in. It'll be a big step for an intermediate/junior club to go straight in to the top flight.

I don't think many Premier clubs can field a B team in the first division. Part of the reason for scrapping the A Championship is some Premier clubs found it a drain on resources/finances to have to field a second team. Would 3 regional leagues at that level be more manageable?

Premier

St Patrick's Athletic

Dundalk

Sligo Rovers

Derry City

Shamrock Rovers

Cork City

Drogheda United

Limerick

UCD

Bohemians

Bray Wanderers

Shelbourne

Athlone Town

Longford Town

Waterford United

Galway FC

Wexford Youths

Finn Harps

East	North&West	South
St Patrick's Athletic A	Sligo Rovers A	Cork City A
Dundalk A	Derry City A	Limerick A
Shamrock Rovers A	Athlone Town A	Waterford United A
Drogheda United A	Longford Town A	Bray Wanderers A
UCD A	Galway FC A	Waterford United A
Shelbourne A	Finn Harps A	Wexford Youths A
Carlow FC	Fanad Utd	Cobh Ramblers
Tullamore Town	Castlebar Celtic	Tralee Dynamos

The above is obviously unlikely to happen but it's simply one suggestion of a direction the league could take with the set-up of the regionalised second tier possibly used at U19 and U17 levels.

**culloty82** · 28/09/2013, 10:44 AM

So, will Mervue's excellent form force a re-think on their part, or is it still full steam ahead for Galway FC?

**gufcfan** · 28/09/2013, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by culloty82

So, will Mervue's excellent form force a re-think on their part, or is it still full steam ahead for Galway FC?

Neither Mervue nor Salthill's memberships have any interest in senior LOI football. Both clubs have been told they will not be competing in the LOI whatever happens.

What happens in the league will have no bearing on anything imo.

The only driver behind their current involvement seems to me to be the personal ambitions of certain people and the political advantages of others in the FAI of keeping the aforementioned happy. Imo, allegedly, etc, etc.

**Terry** · 28/09/2013, 3:12 PM

Full steam ahead for Galway FC

**Sean South** · 28/09/2013, 7:53 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Are you only interested in annoying people? Playing the same 7 teams over and over again is pointless and dull. The First division is just horrible to be a part of at the minute.

Why would that annoy you? Just asking a question. Most of the football "loving" public seem more interested in the oppisition then their own clubs here. "Ah sure it's only Harps" and then stay at home. I don't understand that attitude myself, if you're a supporter then support your club.

**dong** · 30/09/2013, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Why would that annoy you? Just asking a question. Most of the football "loving" public seem more interested in the oppisition then their own clubs here. "Ah sure it's only Harps" and then stay at home. I don't understand that attitude myself, if you're a supporter then support your club.

I agree but not everybody can tolerate that muck every week.

**deiseach** · 02/10/2013, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Why would that annoy you? Just asking a question. Most of the football "loving" public seem more interested in the oppisition then their own clubs here. "Ah sure it's only Harps" and then stay at home. I don't understand that attitude myself, if you're a supporter then support your club.

Are you being serious? If the First Division was reduced to two teams, would you still apply the same logic?

**peadar1987** · 02/10/2013, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by deiseach

Are you being serious? If the First Division was reduced to two teams, would you still apply the same logic?

I wonder would Sean South turn up to watch Sligo against Sligo reserves?

**Sean South** · 02/10/2013, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by deiseach

Are you being serious? If the First Division was reduced to two teams, would you still apply the same logic?

There would never be a league of just two teams so your argument is idiotic at best.

Originally Posted by peadar1987

I wonder would Sean South turn up to watch Sligo against Sligo reserves?

More idiotic nonsense although I have been to friendlies between Rovers vs Rovers "select". Other then a meaningless friendly that scenario wouldn't happen. Keep to the fantasy posts on how to improve the "league" it's what you do best.

**marinobohs** · 02/10/2013, 12:45 PM

Not sure what will happen with the LOI structure for next season but I do know if Bray remain rooted to the bottom of the premier Division they will not go down. It is a weird Gypsy curse (not sure if its on them or other clubs) or something but trust me they will survive, they just always do.

**deiseach** · 02/10/2013, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

There would never be a league of just two teams so your argument is idiotic at best.

More idiotic nonsense although I have been to friendlies between Rovers vs Rovers "select". Other then a meaningless friendly that scenario wouldn't happen. Keep to the fantasy posts on how to improve the "league" it's what you do best.

The point is that you seem to think that you are somehow negligent as a fan if you express dismay at being in an eight-team division. I'm trying to establish how small a division would have to become before you might agree that it is too small. It doesn't look like I'm going to get an answer.

**deiseach** · 02/10/2013, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

Not sure what will happen with the LOI structure for next season but I do know if Bray remain rooted to the bottom of the premier Division they will not go down. It is a weird Gypsy curse (not sure if its on them or other clubs) or something but trust me they will survive, they just always do.

See peadar1987's sig

**Sean South** · 02/10/2013, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by deiseach

The point is that you seem to think that you are somehow negligent as a fan if you express dismay at being in an eight-team division. I'm trying to establish how small a division would have to become before you might agree that it is too small. It doesn't look like I'm going to get an answer.

I think 8 teams league is to small. But my original point that you quoated me on wasn't about the size of the league, it was about fans picking and choosing games because of the oppisition.

**deiseach** · 02/10/2013, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

I think 8 teams league is to small. But my original point that you quoated me on wasn't about the size of the league, it was about fans picking and choosing games because of the oppisition.

But the point that you were replying to was by nigel-harps1954 where he was saying that every fan has their limit, his being subjected to regularly watching reserve teams. Do you have no limit?

**Sean South** · 02/10/2013, 1:22 PM

I assume I have a limit but I don't know as you won't know till you reach it, and I've endured some depressing times supporting my club over the years. If we ended up in a league playing against reserve sides I'd still be there. I'd say good chunk of the people on message boards like this would be there too if their team was in that position.

**nigel-harps1954** · 02/10/2013, 1:22 PM

There's a reason I didn't respond to him deiseach.

**deiseach** · 02/10/2013, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

If we ended up in a league playing against reserve sides I'd still be there. I'd say good chunk of the people on message boards like this would be there too if their team was in that position.

Fair enough.