Mayo FC

[pineapple stu]

Talk of them joining the LoI from 2026 - https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-41168977.html

A pity we're still following the questionable franchise model, but be interesting to see how it goes!

(Have already seen online that Mayo can now have two football teams to let them down)

[culloty82]

Probably the only way you'd maximise all the available talent in the county, as if Castlebar applied, there wouldn't be any buy-in from Westport, and vice-versa.

[yurt]

I agree with Stu's general concern around the franchise model but it wouldn't concern me too much when it comes to Mayo.

GAA's support model means that pride of county if first and foremost in this country. Would be ideal if they were to start off in a third tier and could build toward promotion instead of starting off losing the majority of weeks like Kerry have had to endure this year.

Would be huge for the west to add another club.

[outspoken]

There's no other way to launch a team like this other than "the franchise model." Zero point in the likes of Castlebar etc entering on their own, need to get the entire county behind it to succeed. This is a good thing for LOI. Two huge sporting counties setting up shop in recent times (mayo & Kerry)

[legendz]

There seems to be some snobbery within traditional League of Ireland circles towards the elite licencing model. There are many recreational clubs within Mayo. If an elite club is being established, it will be a great opportunity for the elite players. Professionalism is more attainable an elite club. Elite clubs and recreational clubs can coexist. People can support their local recreational club and their local elite club.

[outspoken]

There seems to be some snobbery within traditional League of Ireland circles towards the elite licencing model. There are many recreational clubs within Mayo. If an elite club is being established, it will be a great opportunity for the elite players. Professionalism is more attainable an elite club. Elite clubs and recreational clubs can coexist. People can support their local recreational club and their local elite club.

Great shout

[pineapple stu]

There seems to be some snobbery within traditional League of Ireland circles towards the elite licencing model.

The problem - as it always is with you - is that you completely ignore the points made against this franchise model (not least Kerry's struggles this year which are already hitting the initial momentum and goodwill and the turnstiles) and dismiss it as snobbery with no evidence whatsoever. It's not snobbery, as a consideration of the arguments would clearly indicate.

Your post isn't really a strong argument nor a great shout

[legendz]

The problem - as it always is with you

The elite licencing model is not the reason for Kerry's struggles. Mayo, Kildare, CK United and anyone else seeking to join the League of Ireland should be building through the youth leagues and a third tier. Kerry should have joined a third tier. That third tier does not currently exist. An opportunity presented itself and Kerry were first in line through the youth leagues since 2016 to apply for the First Division.
If Kerry are the last club to join the League of Ireland like that, it will be progression. The next new club joining the First Division should be after reaching an agreed qualifying position in the third tier and beating the 10th placed team in the First Division in a playoff.

[pineapple stu]

It is part of the reason for Kerry's struggles. It meant a club utterly unprepared for LoI football was elected - just as happened with Cabo and others before them. But we've had this discussion ad infinitum here at this stage but you don't really seem to engage in the arguments made.

Asking to join a third tier is no difference to asking to join a second tier - hence the three teams in Galway fiasco.

[legendz]

Asking to join a third tier is no difference to asking to join a second tier - hence the three teams in Galway fiasco.

Have the youth leagues repeated the three clubs in Galway fiasco? If the third tier is the next level of progression from U19, it is the tier for non league clubs to build for a First Division licence and earn a First Division place on the pitch as well.

[pineapple stu]

Why is that relevant?

And why the insistence that a solid 19s team is a good basis for a solid senior setup? That also makes no sense

[nr637]

Talk of them joining the LoI from 2026 - https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-41168977.html

A pity we're still following the questionable franchise model, but be interesting to see how it goes!

(Have already seen online that Mayo can now have two football teams to let them down)

Maybe they realise the GAA model is not working and its time to get behind the real game that matters, they must have been watching the Kerry model and don't want to be left behind!

[outspoken]

It is part of the reason for Kerry's struggles. It meant a club utterly unprepared for LoI football was elected - just as happened with Cabo and others before them. But we've had this discussion ad infinitum here at this stage but you don't really seem to engage in the arguments made.

Asking to join a third tier is no difference to asking to join a second tier - hence the three teams in Galway fiasco.

You're telling us Killarney or Tralee would have been better prepared as opposed to Kerry FC?

[pineapple stu]

Not sure where you got that from tbh.

[Nesta99]

Talk of them joining the LoI from 2026 - https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-41168977.html

A pity we're still following the questionable franchise model, but be interesting to see how it goes!

(Have already seen online that Mayo can now have two football teams to let them down)

Got a laugh from that. Having Mayo in laws that gave fierce abuse on Louth football I had to eventually strike the low blow that Louth had won and All Ireland more recently than Mayo....I wasnt popular for a while but thoroughy enjoyed the response!

Its hard to shake the old LoI fear factor of things going pear shaped - it was in the realms of 'if only' to have greater geographic spread, teams in regions under represented, GAA losing much of the clout to stunt 'the garrison game', national underage leagues for LoI with the stranglehold of youths football on wider development broken, sold out senior games, seeded teams in Europe with clubs getting to groups stages, infrastructure development plans, a functioning FAI, over paid CEO and cronies with personal slush funds ousted, limited or not an Ireland side full of players with LoI backgrounds. Its not miles off a full wishlist from the earliest days of Foot.ie

[Nesta99]

It is part of the reason for Kerry's struggles. It meant a club utterly unprepared for LoI football was elected - just as happened with Cabo and others before them. But we've had this discussion ad infinitum here at this stage but you don't really seem to engage in the arguments made.

Asking to join a third tier is no difference to asking to join a second tier - hence the three teams in Galway fiasco.

Kerry aside as as you mentioned the issues have been well discussed, its still to early to compare with past clubs like Kildare imo - my sense of this Mayo proposal is that it is being thought through, it is a phased plan, medium to long term, negotiations that may well have targets to be met and there is liason with a club that they can learn from, especially the pitfalls. The timescale allows for additional criteria to be included as part of the plans and I doubt the negotiations are already setting things in stone. I see it as generally positive overall. Its no Irish Sea FC which not so long ago were a genuine risk of being elected on pure BS and seemingly it was Athletics Ireland saying Morten Stadium wouldnt be available that put a stop to a very likely fiasco. This has a different air to it even just simply on the level of engagement and longer term planning. Maybe I'm being naive but FAI nua might just be a bit more serious about potential damage done to LoI if clubs fail as in the past.

[legendz]

Why is that relevant?

And why the insistence that a solid 19s team is a good basis for a solid senior setup? That also makes no sense

If/when Kildare, CK United and Mayo players get to U19. A team in a third tier would be the next step after U19s?

[pineapple stu]

Not if they can't compete at third tier level - either on the pitch or off it.

A senior team in whatever senior league best suits them is the next step, and the senior team can build and progress from there.

[legendz]

A senior team in whatever senior league best suits them is the next step, and the senior team can build and progress from there.

Are you referring to recreational leagues?

[nigel-harps1954]

Something worth considering is the distance of the ground from the town as well. Milebush Park seems a basic enough ground, one seated stand, fence around the rest of the pitch. Has a lot of room for growth though. But importantly, it's about 2.5km outside of the town centre of Castlebar. Hard to get a match night buzz going outside the town, similar enough to the likes of Wexford and Longford in that regard.