Attendances 2024

[oriel]

A 12 team PD would be good, but its the games series set up that's the problem, 33 just doesn't work, plus you could be away to bigger clubs twice in one season that you are challenging etc.

36 games right now is about just right, unless they did something like the SPL, (12 teams) then split and run to 38 games, but splits are not everyones cup of tea, not sure I`d like to see that return.

[Nesta99]

It was horrible when it was tried but I think now there would be some effort to incentivise being top of the lower half of the split along with winning a relegation battle. I agree on the 33 games, meaning being away twice to some clubs, efforts to rotate that annually were daft. Only thing I can think its play home and away and maybe then a draw for the 3rd round? or some sort of seeding, head to head in earlier rounds?

I should have mentioned in a previous post that the sense of playing side too often in a 10 team format also has to do with schedulig and the weighting of almost 3 rounds done by midsummer. I know its to help with fiture congestion if teams progress in Europe but it seems to lack balance also.

[outspoken]

There isn't yet enough depth in the FD for as 12 team top flight. The current Cork team would go straight back down while the rest aren't in the same parish as the 10 current PD clubs.

[EatYerGreens]

There isn't yet enough depth in the FD for as 12 team top flight. The current Cork team would go straight back down while the rest aren't in the same parish as the 10 current PD clubs.

Somebody has to get relegated though. All 3 of the most recently promoted clubs in the English Premier went straight back down agai this season after1 year, for example. So if the team who finish top of the FD can't then sustain themselves in the tier above, then so be it. That's football.

[culloty82]

Not to mention you'd somehow have to rustle up two new First Division clubs to avoid an eight-team second tier - perhaps Kildare and either Carlow or Mayo might eventually step up, but not aware of those clubs having any senior intentions for now (unless the third division does somehow begin in 2025)?

[pineapple stu]

There isn't yet enough depth in the FD for as 12 team top flight. The current Cork team would go straight back down while the rest aren't in the same parish as the 10 current PD clubs.

I'm minded of when Bart Simpson was put in the remedial class -



Expanding the Premier would help some clubs currently in the First.

But while I'm generally not in favour of a ten-team league, it's clearly the best option while we only have 20 clubs in the league and massive difficulties getting anyone else to join (and not go bankrupt while doing so)

[EatYerGreens]

Expanding the Premier would help some clubs currently in the First.

But while I'm generally not in favour of a ten-team league, it's clearly the best option while we only have 20 clubs in the league and massive difficulties getting anyone else to join (and not go bankrupt while doing so)

** Paging Irish Sea F.C, Come-in Irish Sea F.C.......**

[nr637]

** Paging Irish Sea F.C, Come-in Irish Sea F.C.......**

Any chance we of reviving one of the following,

Newcastle West
Thurles Town
Salthill Devon
Mervue United
St. James Gate
Home Farm
Monaghan United
Transport
St. Francis
Kilkenny City
Albert Rovers.........?

That's a Division of its own there

[pineapple stu]

Why would you look to revive clubs who couldn't keep going in the LoI?

[nigel-harps1954]

I personally love the idea of watching a game in front of 30 people in Drom again.

[Acornvilla]

Why would you look to revive clubs who couldn't keep going in the LoI?

I do think the league is in a generally healthier state now, where some of those clubs could make a better fist of it, and not blow up. Maybe Monaghan with Cavan, Kilkenny with Carlow and some form of Kildare job linked with the university side will be sustainable in the long term. Same goes for the new Mayo entity. We have a lot of large population centers, far larger than a lot of current LOI clubs that definitely in theory could support professional football, but it is all wishful thinking really for now.

As long as the FAI continues to invite regional underage sides and gives them time to build up multiple age groups it will build communities, I think we will have a handful more clubs who can do a Kerry within the decade. Things are far more likely to be sustainable if they have community involvement and teams from u13-20 on the men's and women's side before pushing in to senior football. That's where you get your fanbase and volunteers and how you'll survive the difficult transition.

I'd love us to be in a position to have 24 "senior teams" making two leagues of 12, with a regionalized amateur pyramid below. Talk of a 3rd tier by the original date was so unbelievably ambitions I figured they must have had a plan and clubs in mind, but evidently not.

I think we're on the right track, but lord that Simpsons reference you mentioned rings true.

[pineapple stu]

I think we will have a handful more clubs who can do a Kerry within the decade.

I think by and large I agree with your post, but on this bit it should be noted Kerry haven't done anything that the clubs in nr637's post didn't manage either...

[Acornvilla]

You're not wrong. Their next step is as important as any that have happened before. If they start spending to chase success it could all end very badly very quickly, but with a patient approach I feel like they'll be ok, the stadium being within another stadium is very weird thou and I'm not sure how suitable the whole situation is in the long term, but I guess that comes back to facilities and investment and the bigger picture.

[Shearer]

Missing:
Longford v Treaty - 13th May

Now showing as 218 on connect.

[pineapple stu]

You're not wrong. Their next step is as important as any that have happened before. If they start spending to chase success it could all end very badly very quickly, but with a patient approach I feel like they'll be ok, the stadium being within another stadium is very weird thou and I'm not sure how suitable the whole situation is in the long term, but I guess that comes back to facilities and investment and the bigger picture.

True - though on the flip side their form is rubbish and there's only so long you can keep interest while rooted to the bottom of the table (which happened with the other clubs too). Crowds are already well off the first half of last season (which was always to be expected in fairness) and that's the way to a slippery slope. Part of the problem, as ever, is they've no lower division to go to to regroup and be successful for a while; get a bit of interest back.

[listowelceltic]

Our form is not rubbish. We've won our last 3 at home and we're not rooted to the bottom of the table either.

[listowelceltic]

I take back won last 3 at home. Ucd of course ended that run

[Martinho II]

I had a program stall at a football program fair a few weeks back and was told by a ex Monaghan Utd fan that I have not seen in years that the chances of Monaghan-Cavan getting in the loi 3rd tier is very strong. The appetite seems very strong up north at present. Would be good to see them back in it imo!

[pineapple stu]

Our form is not rubbish. We've won our last 3 at home and we're not rooted to the bottom of the table either.

Last and second last in the First Division in two seasons is pretty rubbish in fairness.

[nigel-harps1954]

I had a program stall at a football program fair a few weeks back and was told by a ex Monaghan Utd fan that I have not seen in years that the chances of Monaghan-Cavan getting in the loi 3rd tier is very strong. The appetite seems very strong up north at present. Would be good to see them back in it imo!

Monaghan United might fancy the third tier but the Monaghan/Cavan underage project failed miserably.