Ulster says huh!
Interesting article on RTE just now. FAI claim the LoI champions are to play off against the IL champions over two legs. IFA say this is news to them; they've spoken about but it agreed nothing.
Plus ca change, etc.
Wonder where the "good money" is coming from?
Ulster says huh!
Lol!
With this future joint bid for the u23 European championships there might be a few quid thrown at it. There would have to be to pique the interest of the IL sides. It isnt beyond possible that prizemoney would be similar if not more than the prixemoney for winning the league. Funds split between the two associations and a decent sponsor!?
Last edited by Nesta99; 13/02/2019 at 1:01 AM.
At least the Nordie teams will only have to venture a few miles over the border for the away leg ;-)
Strange one though, and typically #greatestleagueintheworld behaviour announcing it before it's agreed. Hard to see how it would work logistically though- as usual the leagues being on different schedules confuses things. Presumably it'd have to be two midweeks in November to fit around the Irish League season. And unless there's some serious money involved it's hard to see the attraction given the inevitable security concerns, out of season scheduling, and for the Nordies the prospect of losing to the Fenian basterds.
Maybe this should be moved to a rumours thread then so? The majority of posts on Foot.ie are speculation with some sniping thrown in so where is the harm in speculating on this. We know that in the past Northern teams lost interest particularly when the prizemoney was cut even if they claimed it was due to travel as associated costs and lack of success in the old competition. They managed scheduling quite well when the prizemoney pot was circa 500k. It will be the prizemoney that will sway the NIPL members and while it was a gaffe by Fran Gavin to mention it before it was a done deal it must have been at an advanced stage as a proposal. It will probably go ahead imo but the IFA have to have a cantankerous moment first, that's par for the course for them! An All Ireland title is all thats missing from Dundalk FCs trophy haul over the years afterall ;p
It wasn't a gaffe by Gavin. The IFA were aware and don't fall for the spin in their statement. They failed to discuss with their membership. The NIFL clubs won't need swayed as it will be an invitational competition with only one team needing to be invited.
As for scheduling, that could be a real mess as the IFA didn't think it through properly, especially if it is Linfield who are the title winners, given already scheduled international fixtures.
As I said, don't believe the spin in the statements. NIFL are/will not be involved in any agreement as the competition belongs to the two associations. The FAI and IFA have run with this themselves and the IFA have done so to the exclusion of discussing it with their member clubs. The IFA were aware the announcement was being made, but failed to join the dots. Imo, the fault lies more in their direction for the poor pr on this.
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