A 7-team league First Division Next Year

**avvenalaf** · 24/11/2013, 9:15 PM

Originally Posted by Trainee;1724250[B

]Shamrock rovers reserves is what I heard[/B], We simply wont know till fixtures are out

Wow!. Sligo Rovers to have a third team in the league?

**NeverFeltBetter** · 24/11/2013, 9:22 PM

I have noticed a handful of people on LOI FB pages and Twitter say "FC Carlow", but without any kind of source or backing for the statement. I was given to understand that the club was, post-A Championship, operating a very low level, with no website, no operating social media and no contact information available anywhere. Where are they currently competing? What ground are they using? Does it meet the requirements? These are the questions you ask before repeating "I heard its FC Carlow!"

**Longfordian** · 24/11/2013, 9:37 PM

Carlow IT has some kind of a dedicated football course, wouldn't be shocked if they were invited in in some capacity.

**A face** · 24/11/2013, 9:51 PM

Originally Posted by Trainee

Shamrock rovers reserves is what I heard, We simply wont know till fixtures are out

Being honest, if that were true then i think its just not on. All LOI Clubs should have been given the option, and bring the First Division to 12 teams. I think it would be an unfair advantage. Right now, the A Championship or a reserve league/reserve team in the first div is exactly what we need.

**bluewhitearmy** · 24/11/2013, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Being honest, if that were true then i think its just not on. All LOI Clubs should have been given the option, and bring the First Division to 12 teams. I think it would be an unfair advantage. Right now, the A Championship or a reserve league/reserve team in the first div is exactly what we need.

Do you know they weren't?

**IrishRossi** · 24/11/2013, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Carlow IT has some kind of a dedicated football course, wouldn't be shocked if they were invited in in some capacity.

yes but if i remeber from my time in the it down there a good few of the lads on the course has contracts with other loi teams

**A face** · 25/11/2013, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Do you know they weren't?

I'd have heard if we were, seriously, this is an issue for us since the U21s was scrapped.

**Acornvilla** · 25/11/2013, 3:32 AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29780982.html

Indo seem pretty sure it's Rovers..

**Macy** · 25/11/2013, 8:24 AM

According to the Indo, they'll be able to move players between the 1st and reserve teams, and are looking the scrap their U19's. Serious advantage for their premier division team I'd have thought.

Personally, I think having reserves teams in it seriously undermines the credibility of the first team clubs in the 1st division. Also, it will take players away from first division clubs, reducing the standard. Clubs would have no need to put players out on loan, and players would have no need to look to be released for first team football (we'll be particularly hit with Rovers

) - that'll probably impact on the lower clubs in the premier too.

I don't agree with it, but unless the FAI asked all Premier division clubs, I think they'll have issues. Whether they'd want to or not, the FAI should have proper criteria for allowing it. Not bs about the most financially stable - proper criteria. Are Rovers even that financially stable? If they have another crap year will they have to pull the reserve team? Assuming no one else wants to come in, does that leave us back to 7 teams?

**White Horse** · 25/11/2013, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

According to the Indo, they'll be able to move players between the 1st and reserve teams, and are looking the scrap their U19's.

The potential for unfair competition is too great, if this is the case.

If Shams are allowed to play any player in their first division team, this could mean promotion contenders playing against vastly different quality line-ups.

**Mr A** · 25/11/2013, 8:40 AM

Exactly, will wait for confirmation but these rumours are worrying.

**Macy** · 25/11/2013, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by White Horse

The potential for unfair competition is too great, if this is the case.

If Shams are allowed to play any player in their first division team, this could mean promotion contenders playing against vastly different quality line-ups.

My take from the Indo article is that any player can move between the teams, with the limited number on any given weekend. I was more thinking on the unfairness on other premier clubs, but you're right, it could really impact the first. The 1st team gets knocked out of the cup, and so has a free weekend - is the reserve team going to be packed with their top players?

**prince20** · 25/11/2013, 9:02 AM

Im hearing its a maximum of 3 first team players in any game with a grading system in place. From what I understand of the grading system it would mean that if you play a certain number of games (possibly 5) with the firsts you may not be eligible for the reserves but im not exactly sure so dont take this as accurate. There will be a grading system in place though.

**Ezeikial** · 25/11/2013, 9:08 AM

The FAI have made some incredibly arrogant and clearly inequitable decisions in the past in relation to LOI. This one, if implemented as the Indo suggests, would be the most outrageous since the IAG debacle

**White Horse** · 25/11/2013, 9:16 AM

The first division is a competitive league with a small number of teams.

Including a team who are not participating competitively but rather using it for development purposes is fundamentally contradictory and has the potential to distort results.

**Neish** · 25/11/2013, 9:32 AM

Don't agree with this if it is indeed true but its better than a 7 team division. A few of question however

1. Will Rovers have to pay the regular fee to enter the reserve side in the league
2. Will they be playing their home games in Tallaght.
3. If the FAI are going down this road why not get another two teams and make it a 10 team division

**Dodge** · 25/11/2013, 9:57 AM

Originally Posted by Neish

3. If the FAI are going down this road why not get another two teams and make it a 10 team division

Finding 2 clubs willing to spend €80-100k to fund these teams is the main issue I'd have thought. I know other clubs have talked about it in the recent past but it is a lot of money when the new team has no income streams of it's own.

I'm not against these teams in the league but there has to be strict rules regarding movement between the two. They should be treated as two separate teams, with movement between the two only in the windows. That's how it operates in Spain etc

**Macy** · 25/11/2013, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Finding 2 clubs willing to spend �80-100k to fund these teams is the main issue I'd have thought. I know other clubs have talked about it in the recent past but it is a lot of money when the new team has no income streams of it's own.

I'm not against these teams in the league but there has to be strict rules regarding movement between the two. They should be treated as two separate teams, with movement between the two only in the windows. That's how it operates in Spain etc

If they could offset the cost of the U19's though, if Rovers are allowed to scrap theirs, that might be the difference between clubs doing it or not. It looks like their going for much more relaxed movement between the two, rather than your spanish example, so it wouldn't be a whole new squad - the basis would be the fringe players of the first team.

However, The main point is the option should've been there for all clubs, along with the clear criteria for allowing it. Whether clubs then take up that option isn't really relevant. That could be why they're leaking it now though - flush out the other clubs and then call their bluff on entry. We can't be expecting the FAI to be open and transparent...

**Bawnville Hoop** · 25/11/2013, 10:35 AM

The first division standard is muck.

Rovers will match the crowds,
Match the standard,
Match the costs.

It suits Rovers and it suits the FAI. Colin Hawkins was appointed U19 manager last week, this explains it.