A 7-team league First Division Next Year

**Dodge** · 20/11/2013, 1:55 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I believe the argument is, none of the First Division clubs want to be playing the same 7 teams over and over again. It's utterly ridiculous. The added finance is only a bonus. An 8 team First Division was a disgrace, and a travelling nightmare. A 7 team division is just completely unworkable.

Settle down. I haven't heard anyone suggest 7 is workable, Who are you arguing with?

**Louth4sam** · 20/11/2013, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

So, a game against the likes of Finn Harps or Longford Town or Waterford United are less attractive than that of Bray, UCD or Drogheda (with respect to the clubs mentioned)?

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Yes very much so. Only Harps and Shels of the current first division clubs traditionally bring any kind of travelling support and neither of which would add any home support. Seven home games with maybe 1000 less fans than we would get against teams like Rovers/Pats/Derry/Sligo. That could be a �70,000 short fall in gate receipts alone. Add in bar sales, programs etc and it's a whole lot more.

With no disrespect to the likes of Bray but I'm sure games against the Dublin sides, Dundalk, Sligo, Derry are important to keep them going. If they were to lose 5 of these it could tip them over the edge financially.

**Mr A** · 20/11/2013, 2:56 PM

Seven games with fewer fans perhaps.. but the games again the bigger clubs would probably (lots of other factors of course, primarily form) draw higher crowds due to the relative increase in attractiveness.

Plus it seems to me better to have some clubs have to rein in their budgets a bit than to continue the bleed of clubs from the league we have currently- which sooner or later will hurt everyone.

**Louth4sam** · 20/11/2013, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Seven games with fewer fans perhaps.. but the games again the bigger clubs would probably (lots of other factors of course, primarily form) draw higher crowds due to the relative increase in attractiveness.

Plus it seems to me better to have some clubs have to rein in their budgets a bit than to continue the bleed of clubs from the league we have currently- which sooner or later will hurt everyone.

Those games already sell themselves, there is very little attendance change for playing one of the big clubs a second time from what I've seen.

Reigning in budgets = weakening a team. �70k could be two decent premier division players.
Six new clubs in the premier division would also force up wages as more teams would be competing for signatures of Premier division standard players. If Harps were promoted would you stick to your current first division side or would you be competing with Drogheda/Bray/Bohs/Dundalk for the middle wage bracket players in the league?

**Mr A** · 20/11/2013, 3:40 PM

We might raise the budget a bit for sure, but I doubt we'd be competing with any of the clubs you mention for very many (if any) players.

**peadar1987** · 20/11/2013, 5:21 PM

The quality of "premier division player" would drop. The bottom of the Premier Division would be the 19th best squad in the country, instead of the 12th, and the playing staff would reflect that.

**ForzaForth** · 20/11/2013, 6:07 PM

Haven't heard anything official, but from talking to people attending the U19 and womens matches at Ferrycarrig, the general view seems to be that the Youths will be in the First Division again next year. The threat regarding the loss of the pitch seems to have faded away.

I would agree with the general sentiment here that, with Mervue and Salthill gone, we're the most vulnerable of the teams remaining. Will post as soon as I hear anything more as you would think that the FAI would have to go with a single league if only six teams remained, all with Premier Division history.

**Martinho II** · 20/11/2013, 7:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Mullingar aren't in the top 4 division of the Leinster Senior League and you want them in the LOI?
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dodge no offence but I remember in 2001 all of the talk about Mullingar Town joining the league and in the end Kildare Co edged them out.. Surely Mullingar Town were in the same divisions 12 yrs ago or was the reason they were contenders cos they had strong financial backing at that time??

**A face** · 20/11/2013, 9:19 PM

Someone needs to do a feasibility study on possible clubs for the top 1/2/3 dvisions, anyone doing a thesis any time soon?

**gufcfan** · 20/11/2013, 9:25 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Someone needs to do a feasibility study on possible clubs for the top 1/2/3 dvisions, anyone doing a thesis any time soon?

A teacher of mine always used to say I must be putting together a thesis on "tada" (the word for "nothing" in Irish).

Maybe I could switch focus.

**bennocelt** · 21/11/2013, 5:29 AM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

dodge no offence but I remember in 2001 all of the talk about Mullingar Town joining the league and in the end Kildare Co edged them out.. Surely Mullingar Town were in the same divisions 12 yrs ago or was the reason they were contenders cos they had strong financial backing at that time??

They had (and still have) good solid financial backing if pushed. But they applied twice and were denied twice, despite doing fairly ok in the under 21 league, and having a ground. Since then both teams in Mullingar have left the Leinster Senior League, the appetite is way gone, and now games against Kinnegad and Clara Town are considered big games!