A 7-team league First Division Next Year

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/12/2013, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Agree with Mr.A on this one. I don't think Rovers have done anything wrong at all. But, should they enter a second team, they should most certainly be made pay the entry fee for both teams as it is a separate team altogether at the end of the day.

The PA says each club must pay the entry fee.

I think Rovers probably should pay the fee but only if it is financially viable. If not, a 7-team league it is and FD clubs should be able to cope with the reduction in home gates.

**nigel-harps1954** · 15/12/2013, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

The PA says each club must pay the entry fee.

I think Rovers probably should pay the fee but only if it is financially viable. If not, a 7-team league it is and FD clubs should be able to cope with the reduction in home gates.

Shouldn't that apply to all clubs then?

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/12/2013, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Shouldn't that apply to all clubs then?

Absolutely. But if one team is committing two teams, they should be afforded a bit of flexibility in light of their disproportionate contribution. If that's not acceptable to the league, they can operate with seven teams and everybody can lose home gates.

**citybone** · 16/12/2013, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

IThe MSL presumably has different rules. UCD have a team in the LSL, so I don't see why the FAI would stand in the way of Cork joining MSL, so it's an issue for the organisers of that league. By "no other teams wants a B team in the league" I meant LOI level purely.

The MSL clubs didnt want "professional/semi pro" players playing against their teams.

**GCdfc** · 16/12/2013, 8:29 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Absolutely. But if one team is committing two teams, they should be afforded a bit of flexibility in light of their disproportionate contribution. If that's not acceptable to the league, they can operate with seven teams and everybody can lose home gates.

No one is holding a gun to Rovers telling them to enter two teams.

**Pablo Escobar** · 16/12/2013, 8:54 AM

Originally Posted by citybone

The MSL clubs didnt want "professional/semi pro" players playing against their teams.

I think they said that they didn't want the same team winning it every year. They ignored the fact that Avondale currently do that anyway.

Also, it's not really a Munster League as ALL of the 34 clubs are from Cork.

**Dodge** · 16/12/2013, 9:29 AM

The UCD team in the LSL isn't a reserve team either. Completely separate club structures (eg the LSL team plays students only) while the LOI team can sign anyone and uses the lads on scholarship

**pineapple stu** · 16/12/2013, 12:32 PM

Think the LSL is students and ex-students.

There's some players there (James Timmons for example) who played LoI years ago. You spot them crop up every now and again a couple of years after being released by the LoI club.

Two separate clubs though, which is why they were allowed into the FAI Cup a few years back (though I think the FAI have since banned them from qualifying)

**marinobohs** · 16/12/2013, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Absolutely. But if one team is committing two teams, they should be afforded a bit of flexibility in light of their disproportionate contribution. If that's not acceptable to the league, they can operate with seven teams and everybody can lose home gates.

The two teams will not be connected presumably (different registration of players etc) except by single parent club. Don't see any reason the FD team should not pay the same admittance fee as every other team in the First Division. If Shams don't want to pay a separate fee then don't have a separate team, simple as.

**Charlie Darwin** · 16/12/2013, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

The two teams will not be connected presumably (different registration of players etc) except by single parent club. Don't see any reason the FD team should not pay the same admittance fee as every other team in the First Division. If Shams don't want to pay a separate fee then don't have a separate team, simple as.

Agree with this. We'll see how it turns out.

**disgruntled** · 16/12/2013, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Why would I run down any club because of this? Rovers haven't done anything wrong, and I'd say the same if it was Pats or Sligo.

There is no evidence to suggest that Rovers have been granted an exemption from the entry fee or from fielding an U19s side. There are news articles, yes, hilariously portrayed here as Rovers having unquestioning moles in the media that no other club has access to (did the FAI take your phones and give them to Shamrock Rovers too, lads?). I think the entry fee exemption is a reasonable request given they've already paid it once. The U19s request is understandable but to be honest I hope they do end up fielding both.

And I am 100% right about the applications. This Rovers B story came out a week before the deadline for applications. That's roughly a week longer than most clubs take to fill out an application, so plenty of time. The point is that no other club wants a B team in the league, but they desperately want to complain about whoever does. I have no doubt there are people involved in the LOI clubs who will secretly be delighted if this goes ahead because it will feed their persecution complex.

No the point is other clubs weren't given the option.
What gives you or anyone else the right to make decisions for other clubs ?
Personally I don't care who has a team as long as its a level playing field for all.
Give all the clubs the option & let them decide.

**Charlie Darwin** · 16/12/2013, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

No the point is other clubs weren't given the option.
What gives you or anyone else the right to make decisions for other clubs ?
Personally I don't care who has a team as long as its a level playing field for all.
Give all the clubs the option & let them decide.

There was nothing stopping them approaching the FAI with a plan, like Rovers did two years ago.

**SkStu** · 16/12/2013, 3:28 PM

it just feels dirty.

**marinobohs** · 16/12/2013, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

There was nothing stopping them approaching the FAI with a plan, like Rovers did two years ago.

There certainly was rumors that some clubs were approached (about fielding a 2nd team in FD ) although I have no idea how formal or otherwise any contact was. Well known that the FD was in serious need of new blood so don't believe any club with an interest would not have come forward.

I cant see any advantage for shams in it but if they want to put a 2nd team in and have a viable business proposal I don't see the problem as long as same rules/conditions apply as to any other team/club.

**Bawnville Hoop** · 16/12/2013, 7:14 PM

In all seriousness what clubs could actually do this. I could only see Cork City if anyone to do something like this..

I can't wait for this next season, should be great for Rovers.

**Dalymountrower** · 16/12/2013, 7:54 PM

First Division a handy place to park Crolly when Fenlon takes Director of Football job.

**JC_GUFC** · 17/12/2013, 6:54 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

In general message boards play host to some of the least stable individuals in football.

You could say the same about LoI fans too.

**galwayhoop** · 17/12/2013, 8:22 AM

... and what then would you say of LoI message boards...

**prince20** · 17/12/2013, 8:33 AM

The information I understand regarding this is as follows:

Rovers will have a reserve team
They will pay an affiliation fee for the reserve team
They will continue to have an under 19 team

As a long suffering Athlone Town fan I am just glad that Athlone won promotion on the field last season and hopefully all will go well with licensing so we dont have to put up with this charade next season. Im sure the people of Galway must be aghast at this.

**disgruntled** · 17/12/2013, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

There was nothing stopping them approaching the FAI with a plan, like Rovers did two years ago.

Why should they approach the FAI with anything ?
Its the FAI who run our football in this country not the clubs & its FAI's job to come up with the plan.
BUT the plan must be inclusive & include everyone.
The fact that Rovers or any other club approached the FAI should have nothing to do with it.
If the FAI thought the idea had merit, then they should have run with it & expanded the idea to include all Premier clubs.
Instead we have this secrecy behind closed doors discussion with a club which once it got out was bound to cause anger among other clubs & their fans.

I'm asked a question to which I've not yet received an answer.
"Why all the secrecy ?"

Maybe one of our brave investigative reporters

can find an answer to the question because the FAI have remained very silent on the matter despite requests for information.

Why not come straight out & give every Premier club the option to enter a Reserve / B team in the 1st Division ?
Then if one or two take it up,no problem as they were all given the same opportunity.
The whole situation just has a very bad smell to it.