Some serious ambition but liking the positive thinking Stu! Hardwicke FC v Arsenal has a few puns for the back pages but a club called Dublin Celtic FC would certainly get the floating fan ala Dublin City FC especially if they and their Glasgow namesakes make the group stages....
Im overdue a ridiculously long post sooo.....
Great thread to read through! Good to get an outside perspective EG so thanks for that and some interesting points all round - this virus must have another symptom of dulling tribal nature of LoI fans on foot.ie
. On EG's point of adding 'weaker' clubs to an expanded premier, it in itself would improve competativeness in the lower half of the Premier and could lessen the times that teams get cut loose by 10+ points. For a number of seasons at least, as at some stage clubs that are 1st Division/lower Premier will grow beyond being regular relegation fodder, not ignoring that top clubs can go in to freefall too. But early doors it would be a kind of league within a league of clubs at a similar level, and with that, local interest and media coverage maybe = improved attendances, sponsorship, income - a real opportunity if it is not spurned, could even be a selling point to the belligerent. I see it as all about
growth of the game generally, not paring back to smaller and smaller numbers competing at the highest level and doing a local version of UEFA's exclusive, almost invite only policy. An All Island League does seem to be the most obvious and in some ways simplest solution to issues in both leagues. I dont like proposals that have in the past or continue to mooted as solutions to structure - 8 teams? Daft, and if it weren't for the fact that the top 2 clubs werent against it I'd have assumed it was a typical FAI quick fix to the numbers in the first Division.
I'm not sure that higher running costs of LoI has held back ground improvements as I feel it's more a culture of the league historically, certainly from the 70's and early 80's - if IL and LoI were directly comparable (PT, similar attendances, SCGs etc), I still think the IL would have pulled ahead on infrastructure anyway with LoI clubs generally (I havent forgotten Sligo) tending to prioritise the football side of things. In saying that there is the advantage to having medium to large amounts of government money available in decent tranches like in the Northrather than the piecemeal amounts that are often granted here. What is the largest amount provided to a LoI ground development bar Tallaght as the obvious one? The only only one done properly ie 3 new stands started and finished without bits year on year; Well not exactly like that with the initial build but that is conversely a great example of of the issues created by not fully funding projects from the start with the DoTTS auditing construction and the books at points of progression - protecting the grant, club, and construction company.
I get a bit irritated when people suggest the merger of clubs citing the rugby example, and there issues with the tried, tested and often failed efforts to establish new clubs in a population centre. With new regionalised 1st Divisions though, it may be possible to form new clubs or incentivise clubs combining at senior level. I know the latter has the high profile attempt in Galway but that was always going to be messy with the one-upmanship nature of that project, but done properly without existing emnity as the driving force behind it and it has to be a possiblity. Wexford Youths could be successful example of a club formed in an unrepresented area!? Look to clubs that have been in senior football and see if there is a way back. Just because something was tried in the past and didnt work doent mean it should never be considered again. To me this sounds too much like the agenda driven rhetoric of people terrified of losing their ego driven, big cheese opinion of themselves, and their need to have something to show off to their cronies - they'd have no other reason to get out the shiny nylon suit they got for their Euro '88 junkets!
*I should have included fear of not driving the anti-Irish football agenda of the FAI chief dictator also!
Some possibilities off the top of the head - if someone knows there is 'no chance' ('all of them' is not allowed!), established junior clubs that could step up or other options i'd be interested in opinions!
Monaghan, Cavan, East Leitrim (if Leitrim really does exist), Monaghan United could step up again. At underage MUFC and Cavan Schoolboys already combine afaik!?
Mayo could host a side, Castlebar being the obvious spot but could be a County side.
Clare-Ennis?
Tipperary - Thurles Town+Peake Villa could have another go or a club in Nenagh. One side of the family is from Nenagh and I'd love to see both towns have clubs as the rivalry already would have serious crowds out for the derby and both would have the hurls out with them if heading to Clonmel( too close to WFC?).
Kerry - Tralee or Killarney, where's Legendz when ye need him?
Kilkenny/Carlow - Kilkenny City back playing senior ball, Carlow's another spot I'm not sure really exists?!
Laois - Portlaoise. Westmeath - Mullingar Town FC were willing before albeit shafted when A-Champions ship was ditched but could go again. Athlone Town FC are obviously about in the midlands but they are almost like a mythical entity too these days.
Kildare - Kildare County was tried but this time they'd at least sell out every home game v Dundalk as every (real) Lilywhite would be on a pilgrimage to see the place of the Miracle of Station Road!!!
and finally Meath - Navan or maybe Trim.
Yup I know there is a whole lot of 'ideal world' type thinking. There is probably some infringing on existing clubs catchment; I've likely misjudjed the distance between places and are realistically too close to existing clubs to thrive at all, but then again if the smallest county can keep 2 senior clubs alive, if occasionally on life support, its not a definite no!? There are hotbeds of other sports but I dont think that should ever really be a reason just totally rule out a spot. In the commuter belt people could already have their club but some of the natives might be convinced. It's a regular criticism that LoI isnt really a national league but if there was ever a chance to address the inbalance it is via a new regionalised 2nd tier. Considering the size of N.I. and the amount of clubs that have access to the highest level of the game there, we have no excuse in that regard. And apologies if the above some like a half assed, hungover homeschooling geography effort...
All the old nuggets remain of couse and need to be sorted - we all know what they are without listing them, so if we are ever able to offer entry to clubs where there is financial gain rather than punitive cost, even if bottom of the heap, then we will have seen real reform of the game in Ireland! We shouldnt have to worry that the greatest resistance to any change will be from within the game as some people cling to being a a big fish in their tiny pond, it's nearly as difficult an obstacle than the FAI's finances! Sadly there might be a place or two available in either division for any takers come next season if there is no consensus is reached on how to restart this season.
The End.
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