PCA League Proposal

Tralee did apply to join a few years back, but were turned down. Same time as Cobh were turned down. So it's not inconceivable they'd be interested still.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Tralee did apply to join a few years back, but were turned down. Same time as Cobh were turned down. So it's not inconceivable they'd be interested still.

Not inconceivable no but not exactly almost guaranteed either. As far as I know Kerry found it difficult to either get or keep a 19s team going can't remember which it was but doesn't exactly scream somewhere that is ready to jump into LOI.

Kerry League are in the under-17 league already aren't they? Presumably they see a long term senior team there. Mayo League announced plans to have a league of Ireland team by 2020 in Milebush Park a year or two ago. Monaghan/Cavan are stepping up to under-19 this season with a view to senior team in a few years too.

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Kerry League are in the under-17 league already aren't they? Presumably they see a long term senior team there. Mayo League announced plans to have a league of Ireland team by 2020 in Milebush Park a year or two ago. Monaghan/Cavan are stepping up to under-19 this season with a view to senior team in a few years too.

Sorry 17s it is so. I know from a conversation I had with someone that they were trying to convince Kerry to keep the team they had in cos they were struggling to keep it going not sure if its been sorted or not. I know structure isn't the main things that need sorting or anything like I just think some not all are throwing out the 16 with regional leagues without putting thought into what it would actually take with regard new clubs and alligning seasons.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The only other option seems to switch non-league to a summer season.

So the only other option is for non-league to get some common sense and actually play the game at a sensible time of year?

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Weather argument is total nonsense. We have plenty of games called off due to waterlogged pitches during out summer season as it is.

This year I believe it was two. Both in Donegal.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

This year I believe it was two. Both in Donegal.

I did say 'we'...

We had a home game with Bray called off, Sligo had a couple called off too.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

So the only other option is for non-league to get some common sense and actually play the game at a sensible time of year?

I don't think you can call it "sensible" quite as easy as that. The USL went for summer soccer for a while and I think they've since reverted back. They were losing too many players to summer holidays. The DDSL i think have changed, so it looks like the FAI want to keep pushing it that way.

The important thing i think is to align the seasons. Probably summer is better alright, but there's a lot to be worked out.

And I still think that we're even having this discussion means the original decision to change season was a very short sighted one.

The USL weren't losing players to summer holidays. They were losing players to Donegal League mid season.

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Fanad United were willing to step up to First Division a few years ago when they believed it was going to be split North/South for example. They decided against it when that plan didn't go through.

I'd argue that Fanad United would add nothing to the LOI, except helping to make up the numbers.

They're a small parish in an isolated rural location, whilst football is largely an urban phenomena. If anywhere in Donegal got added to the League, it should be somewhere like Letterkenny - with the population to sustain a team, and potentially prosper.

I hope the days of the FAI biting the hand off any club that fancies joining the LOI are over. Under the current system, if they haven't got the core ingredients likely to make a club succeed then they shouldn't be let in IMO. Otherwise it just tees up further drop-outs in the future. If we ever move to a proper pyramid system, then that would of course be a different matter.

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I did say 'we'...

Exactly. So for the sake of the league Harps should move inland.

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

I'd argue that Fanad United would add nothing to the LOI, except helping to make up the numbers.

They're a small parish in an isolated rural location, whilst football is largely an urban phenomena. If anywhere in Donegal got added to the League, it should be somewhere like Letterkenny - with the population to sustain a team, and potentially prosper.

I hope the days of the FAI biting the hand off any club that fancies joining the LOI are over. Under the current system, if they haven't got the core ingredients likely to make a club succeed then they shouldn't be let in IMO. Otherwise it just tees up further drop-outs in the future. If we ever move to a proper pyramid system, then that would of course be a different matter.

Letterkenny Rovers joining the League of Ireland would be the end of Finn Harps. Harps rely heavily on support from Letterkenny. Besides, Letterkenny Rovers are largely despised within Letterkenny itself and would likely draw little support. They have tried to join the league several times to the best of my knowledge and been shot down each time due to proximity to Finn Harps.

Fanad United being isolated and rural would have no bearing. They're almost an hour and a half from any LOI ground. Fanad United are a relatively well supported team in their area too and have a decent setup. They're far from the answer to problems, but they'd be no worse off in the league than Cabinteely, Mervue, Kildare or any other poorly supported team over the past 20 years.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Exactly. So for the sake of the league Harps should move inland.

Inland, like, more than 30km from the coast?

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Fanad United being isolated and rural would have no bearing. They're almost an hour and a half from any LOI ground. Fanad United are a relatively well supported team in their area too and have a decent setup. They're far from the answer to problems, but they'd be no worse off in the league than Cabinteely, Mervue, Kildare or any other poorly supported team over the past 20 years.

That's exactly my point. They'd be no better than other teams who joined and then dropped out of the league (I have no doubt that it's only a matter of time before Cabo joins that list too).

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Inland, like, more than 30km from the coast?

If it's not too much trouble, yes. Thanks for being so co-operative.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

If it's not too much trouble, yes. Thanks for being so co-operative.

So you want them to stay where they are now?

MORE than

Any know where to get updates from todays meeting?

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

The USL weren't losing players to summer holidays. They were losing players to Donegal League mid season.

the USL Nigel is that an unofficial Donegal league or what?