A 7-team league First Division Next Year

**atfconline** · 05/12/2013, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

same as clubs in Co. Clare, Longford Town, Athlone Town (as stated above) and other regions outside of the province. I wonder why that is?

We played on the Connacht side of town for our first 40 years or so.

**legendz** · 06/12/2013, 5:35 PM

John Delaney was interviewed on Radio Kerry during the week. He seemed more interested in a Rovers B team than Dynamos joining the league. It was put to him if Dynamos met the criteria would they be entered as a 9th team, he was saying that there preference is for 8 for the even number of teams/games.

**cobhlad** · 06/12/2013, 11:53 PM

Seems like sh*ts going down at the moment with Ramblers. Senior players unhappy that they received nothing last year while the u19s are even staying in Sligo overnight. Players took days of work for games and you can't blame them for this. Hope its resolved soon

**bluewhitearmy** · 07/12/2013, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by cobhlad

Seems like sh*ts going down at the moment with Ramblers. Senior players unhappy that they received nothing last year while the u19s are even staying in Sligo overnight. Players took days of work for games and you can't blame them for this. Hope its resolved soon

Was it not just one player having a moan on Twitter?

Worrying part is when he says "no player has heard a thing about next year so I suppose we take it there's no team. Once they mind the u19s anyway"

**Terry** · 07/12/2013, 8:24 AM

Poor fella feeling left out ! he won't be getting any phonecalls soon from the club, and rightly so.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 07/12/2013, 11:33 AM

Seems a little mean to take a swipe at the U-19s like that though.

**Ezeikial** · 08/12/2013, 7:57 AM

The FAI latest press release / Garry Doyle's fearless investigative journalism (delete as appropriate) tells us that some or all of the three fudge points are about to happen (assuming that there is no club backlash or legal problem) to facilitate Shamrock Swifts

THE FAI are due to hold further talks with Shamrock Rovers within the next two weeks to finalise the terms which would allow the club to enter a 'B' team into next season's League of Ireland First Division.

Three significant issues need to be ironed out before the project receives the green light.
Firstly, there is the question of whether an affiliation fee will be required by the FAI for a second Rovers side to enter the league.
Secondly, the thorny issue of how many players will be allowed to transfer from the first team to the second 11 on any given weekend will have to be resolved.
And thirdly comes the question of whether Rovers will still be required to field an U-19 team, which is a requirement to obtain a League license.
While these issues remain unresolved, a certain amount of doubt remains about the viability of the project. Still, both parties remain committed to the concept.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29817670.html

**orielabu** · 08/12/2013, 8:44 AM

http://backpagefootball.com/shamrock...ireland/66483/

**Hulsey** · 08/12/2013, 9:47 AM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

The FAI latest press release / Garry Doyle's fearless investigative journalism (delete as appropriate) tells us that some or all of the three fudge points are about to happen (assuming that there is no club backlash or legal problem) to facilitate Shamrock Swifts

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29817670.html

The answer to questions 1 and 3 should be yes. No point in even guessing whats going to happen re player movement.
If there is no registration fee and the 19s are allowed to be scrapped I'd say a few other clubs may be interested in a B team, sure you could just enter the 19s as a B side and have them playing at a higher level every week

**A face** · 08/12/2013, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by orielabu

http://backpagefootball.com/shamrock...ireland/66483/

Love it, great article and seems to be well researched.

**A face** · 08/12/2013, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Hulsey

The answer to questions 1 and 3 should be yes. No point in even guessing whats going to happen re player movement.
If there is no registration fee and the 19s are allowed to be scrapped I'd say a few other clubs may be interested in a B team, sure you could just enter the 19s as a B side and have them playing at a higher level every week

Getting rid of the A Championship, making a pigs ear of the introduction of B Sides, U19s leagues future uncertain .... its clear that its all being managed aimlessly, no plan to develop or grow the league. Sure no wonder we dont have new teams coming through.

**Titan** · 08/12/2013, 10:54 AM

Until we have a proper pyramid system there will be no progress. We won't get a proper pyramid system while junior football has so much influence. I'm sick of the attitude of some people who are involved in "big" Leinster senior etc clubs that they are bigger and better run than loi clubs. I've heard 3 different people claim this in the last 5 days. My answer has been the same to each. "Are you? Really? Prove it then by joining the loi and putting the rest of us in our place" this was met with hysterical laughter each time. Sick of "football people" in this country.

**legendz** · 08/12/2013, 11:07 AM

B teams shouldn't be at the expense of an U19 side. I'd have thought it'd be more for players over 19 for 2-3 years to progress with a club outside of their first team.
The underage league has gone backwards compared with years ago when a number of teams outside the LoU fielded a team. If Kerry join the U19 next year, I'll be interested to see if a few more teams might do likewise over the next few years. Maybe long term then new teams can be invited 2 at a time to join the LoI if they're ready for the step up on and off the park.

**peadar1987** · 08/12/2013, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

B teams shouldn't be at the expense of an U19 side. I'd have thought it'd be more for players over 19 for 2-3 years to progress with a club outside of their first team.
The underage league has gone backwards compared with years ago when a number of teams outside the LoU fielded a team. If Kerry join the U19 next year, I'll be interested to see if a few more teams might do likewise over the next few years. Maybe long term then new teams can be invited 2 at a time to join the LoI if they're ready for the step up on and off the park.

It would be far better if there was a stipulation that the B teams had to field a certain number of under-19 players in each game. Of course, it would be even better still if there was a proper joined-up structure for youth football in this country.

**legendz** · 08/12/2013, 1:25 PM

Originally Posted by peadar1987

It would be far better if there was a stipulation that the B teams had to field a certain number of under-19 players in each game. Of course, it would be even better still if there was a proper joined-up structure for youth football in this country.

I think the stipulation should be no more than 3 over age of 23 players in a B team's matchday squad. The first division is a senior league not an underage league. U19 team should remain as they are.

**wonder88** · 08/12/2013, 3:19 PM

Very good article. The lack of connection between the LoI and the general population is glaring in a nation that loves sport (soccer especially) and is well highlighted by the writer. Sadly my own opinion is that there will be no improvement in attendance figures or the number of viable clubs, as long as the mindset of those in charge of the league (and clubs) change.

**A face** · 08/12/2013, 7:57 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

John Delaney was interviewed on Radio Kerry during the week. He seemed more interested in a Rovers B team than Dynamos joining the league. It was put to him if Dynamos met the criteria would they be entered as a 9th team, he was saying that there preference is for 8 for the even number of teams/games.

Its mad to think that he would want to have a B Team in the first division over another club from a region that currently doesn't have a club. Is he actively discouraging teams from entering the league? I really don't get it. I'd say something if he was pointing to 'a plan' and saying we must stay the course or whatever but there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to some of the decisions being made. It's all off the back of a beer mat and even that plan is scraped after ten pints and the beer mat is sodden through. The reasoning behind the decisions are better understood when you know there was 10 pints onboard anyway.

**disgruntled** · 09/12/2013, 7:49 AM

Originally Posted by Titan

Until we have a proper pyramid system there will be no progress. We won't get a proper pyramid system while junior football has so much influence. I'm sick of the attitude of some people who are involved in "big" Leinster senior etc clubs that they are bigger and better run than loi clubs. I've heard 3 different people claim this in the last 5 days. My answer has been the same to each. "Are you? Really? Prove it then by joining the loi and putting the rest of us in our place" this was met with hysterical laughter each time. Sick of "football people" in this country.

I hope you're young because otherwise your not ever going to see this

**nr637** · 09/12/2013, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by orielabu

[COLOR=#417394]http://backpagefootball.com/shamrock...ireland/66483/[/COLOR]

The main stumbling block with the progression of League football here is definetly the lack of planning by the FAI.

**Fivesilver** · 09/12/2013, 6:45 PM

Originally Posted by Titan

I'm sick of the attitude of some people who are involved in "big" Leinster senior etc clubs that they are bigger and better run than loi clubs. I've heard 3 different people claim this in the last 5 days.

Of course they are - that's why they win the FAI Cup so often. Muppets.