How do we improve the league,Crowds and European performances?

[Roo69]

4 Up 4 Down would be madness IMO. We just don't have enough teams in both divisions to make such a big change each season.

We need more senior clubs in the country full stop and a 16 team premier division. Every county in Ireland should have at least 1 senior team in the eL, even if that meant we clubs joining together to form 1 club so that they could join up. Also i can't forsee that the FAI and IFA will ever join as one but if teams from the north fancy doing a Derry and joining the eL they should be aloud.

I like the idea of the play-offs because it gives a little bit of extra spice at the end of the season when most things are already sorted out so it keeps peoples interest up etc...

If things are to stay the way they are then 2 up and 2 down would probably the best way to go, with 3rd bottom in the premier and the team that finishes 3rd in the 1st playing over 2 legs to see who plays in the top tier.

[pete]

If teams are good enough they will get promoted - its not as if the competition in the 1st division is so hot.

Progressive clubs will stay in the Premier & establish themselves - Longford Town & Drogs. If teams are not good enough they will get relegated.

I don't see what the problem is - uts not as if 1st division clubs are prevented from gaining promotion becayuse of facilities as seen in other countries & other sports.

[TheOwl]

To the answer of the question "How do we improve the league, Crowds, and European performances?

Well the FAI and the IFA just have to get their heads together and sort out an All-Ireland league - instant hype, sponsorship, and excitement guaranteed!

[ColinR]

to be honest i believe an all ireland league will see a short term rise and then return to normal - if other areas around the game aren't improved also.

the AIL crowds had dropped significantly (even before the heineken cup stole all the glamour). the crowds for the setanta weren't that much of a leap anyway, and the interest outside of existing eL/IL supporters didn't seem to exist through to the end of the competition

a lot needs to improve (with or without an all ireland league)

within our control:

the ridiculos in fighting between clubs has to stop
marketing of our league has to improve
facilities have to improve (even little things like putting the tv gantry's opposite the majority of support would be a step up)
financial stability and prudence throughout the league - if clubs cant afford to give a player a contract, then dont give it (if our three sugar daddies leave, then we have to abandon any notion of being a full time club for now anyway)

[Bluebeard]

I think that the best option for rennovating the First Division is three up, three down, possibly along manic_da_hoops lines with a playoff for the third spot, maybe between just 3rd and 4th placed teams. I do think though that another two teams should be added, probably a Mullingar United side and maybe one from Kerry, Wexford/Arklow or Tipperary if they can get their act together. Something also needs to be done about the re-election joke, where one just has to ask nicely and you're let back in. Has any team actually failed to get re-election since the first division started? As far as I can tell it's always been clubs resigning, going bankrupt or being amalgamated with St. Pats in a friendly manner that will bring prestige to both clubs( ) that has led to new teams entering.

[pete]

The problem with re-election is we don't have clubs queuing up to join the league...

[Schumi]

Three teams got promoted from the first last year and it was probably the least competitive season ever.

[Mr A]

It's refreshing to see that so many people have actually realised that the first division is important. I do feel that more mobility between the leagues would help as first division clubs would be more likely to see a return for investing in their teams. Currently, investing heavily in your team in the first could be suicide as if you don't get up (other clubs will always be trying the same) you get little or no return, and possibly severe problems. Despite Harps current position I think 3 up 3 down or 2 up 2 down with a playoff involving a premier team and 3 first division clubs would be better. It's also be worth trying to get a few more teams into the league.

Schumi- what are you on about? The race for the title was neck and neck all the way, and Bray and Kildare fought it out for third, that was pretty competitive as I see it!

[ThatGuy]

How do we improve the league,Crowds and European performances?

All

Ireland

League

[Roo69]

Schumi- what are you on about? The race for the title was neck and neck all the way, and Bray and Kildare fought it out for third, that was pretty competitive as I see it!

Nah i'd agree with Schumi, it was a 3 way battle until the final 2/3 weeks when we decided to hit self destruct, slipped back and let Kildare try catch up, which was never really going to happen + they need to over come a final goal difference of 13/14 goals.

Bray, UCD and Harps were out in front all season long

[Wiseguy]

The Powers that be need to sit down and have a re-think about the whole league in full.The govt. should start by means testing each club and allocating as much as is needed to bring all grounds up to an acceptable standard.
2 up and 2 down with 3rd top v 3rd bottom playoff might be a start.
It should be the same price into every ground in the prem and the same for the 1st.
All games should be on the same night at the same time in each division.Friday nights for the 1st division and saturday nights for the prem or vice versa.
More funding and intrest needs to be shown in the game at underage level with the setting up of schools of excellence where the rep. side could go on to compete in the Milk cup and other major tournaments.
A monthly EL magazine.
Proper radio and tv advertising.
Proper highlights program at a suitable time showing highlights of all matches.
A midweek preview show of all up coming matches.
Clubs need to get more attractive friendlies.
Free kids U12 to all grounds when supervised by an adult.
Segregation in all grounds for away fans,families,sponsors and so on.
To be honest there are so many areas that need improving i could go on all night.

[The Stars]

4 up 4 down is total bollóx. It might be OK in the likes of Italy where there's 20 teams in Serie A, but in a 12-team Premier it'd be nonsense.

The First is only a graveyard for those teams that are too crap to get promoted out of it. Tough. For the yo-yo clubs - Bray, CHF and Waterford being the current crop - it's a temporary aberration. For the rest, harsh but true, they've found their natural level.

well we beat ye this season so is our natural level the Premier division or is St.Pats natural level the First division?

[superfrank]

How do we improve the league,Crowds and European performances?

All

Ireland

League

I like the idea but it's very unlikely.

[anto eile]

How do we improve the league,Crowds and European performances?
You are only as good as your weakest team!
So that to me means the first division and not the premier!
The current relegation/promotion situation is to biased towards
the premier clubs!
There needs to be a serious change to the dynamic of the league
the First division has to stop being a graveyard for football
that no one wants to watch
The solution 4 UP 4 Down
Every year to many teams have no chance of being relegated or
getting close to europe.
The grey area between saftey and actually doing something needs to be
wiped out!
The league cannot afford to have Sligo,Limerick,Athlone,Galway,Dundalk
Harps or Waterford
hotbeds of football not playing in the top flight for any significant time
IMO this situation would create real competition
No longer is finishing 3rd last acceptable Driving teams at the bottom
on!
No longer can big clubs get away with a season or two of crap
Giving something to play for for nearly all teams for all season
crowds are bound to increase
While in the First a large majority would have something to play for
right till the end of the Season
And if one or two of the so called big clubs get caught out
bringing them into the first division will improve its profile
making it stronger while still giving other clubs prospects of reaching the
premier
This IMO Is the only way to bring proper competitive football to the whole
country not just Dublin/Leinster.
(apologies for spelling/grammar errors)

4 up 4 down is ridiculous.
the best compromise would be 2 up 2 down and one play off spot..like a couple of years ago

no junior club actually wants to play in EL div 1, and most would have no ground for it either

[hoops1]

I know alot of people agree that there needs to be
a change in the relegation/promotion situation
and many have varied opinions on how many teams up and down!
But to me the shear brutality of bring quality to the premier or
your down is the beauty of it.
It also makes the Premier more reachable to the first division!
Meaning that its a feeder league in the first where you go to improve
before hopefully returning and in the premier it brings all teams
bar maybe the very bottom two into competition all year!
In which case they have gained a years experience,money
and exposure!Also it would reinvigerate alot of country clubs.
Case in point Cork played Bray last week winning handly 3-0.
I seen the highlights it should have been six!
Now with 4 up 4 down Cork would have played a Bray team fighting
for there lives.It would have been a different game altogether
and would have givien them a better preparation for there UEFA game.

[A face]

Just to summarise so .... A to do list !!


The current relegation/promotion system needs to reviewed.

A proper TV deal for the whole league needs to be secured. A proper highlights programme, a midweek preview show of all up coming matches, and a live game every week.

A proper united marketing policy for the whole league.

The FAI and the IFA have to sort out an All-Ireland league.

The ridiculos in fighting between clubs to stop.

All facilities have to improve like positioning TV gantry's within grounds. The government must start means testing each club and allocating as much as is needed to bring all grounds up to an acceptable standard.

Financial stability and prudence throughout the league (if clubs cant afford to give a player a contract, then dont give it)

Uniform pricing structure throughout the Premier club games, likewise with the first division.

All games should be on the same night at the same time in each division. Friday nights for the 1st division and saturday nights for the prem or vice versa.

More funding and interest needs to be shown in the game at underage level with the setting up of schools of excellence where the rep. side could go on to compete in the Milk cup and other major tournaments.

A monthly EL magazine.

Clubs need to get more attractive friendlies.

Free kids U12 to all grounds when supervised by an adult.

Segregation in all grounds for away fans,families,sponsors and etc.

[superfrank]

Free kids U12 to all grounds when supervised by an adult.

I've seen this happening in a few places before, imo it doesn't make much difference.

[A face]

Just one or two to add myself ... and pinched from else where ...


Get the fan groups, clubs and league administration talking to one another.

The powers that be, that run our league .... when is the last time you have heard any offical statement from them on whatever matter ??

The league probably needs more admin staff who need to be more active, so getting funds for that would be a good step.

Another thing i'd do is get some of the refs to work full-time if possible, at least enable them to get more fitness training in the off season so they can keep up during the season.

A strong, independent disciplinary committee that would use video evidence where available, and ensure that punishments be meted out according to the rules and rigourously carried out, without fear or favour. One season of properly enforced discipline on all players, managers, clubs and referees would do enormous good for this league. (Proper stewarding/conduct at games would also be within the remit of this committee)

Have a league offical on every clubs board of directers to prevent overspending etc.

Set up a proper media group to work on behalf of the league. Something like the Like It, Love It company and sell the programming to RTE, TV3, TnaG, Setanta, UTV etc. so the league controls everything that officially is released to the media, in an effort to hang some of the media out to dry, trying to cash in on bad news stories of the league.

Get more money from Sky (no just one off floodlights) as payment for the damage to our league, either that or they should not be allowed broadcast in our country anymore, basically try and cripple them where ever possible.

[superfrank]

Get more money from Sky (no just one off floodlights) as payment for the damage to our league, either that or they should not be allowed broadcast in our country anymore, basically try and cripple them where ever possible.

I have a better idea for Sky...

When someone buys a digi-box or a dish,the Government levies a very high import tax and an equally high VAT, that way more people will be put off buying them and if they wan they're football fix they'll go to el matches or watch them on the telly.

A similar tax should be put on foreign football club memorabilia, especially Celtic stuff.

[A face]

I have a better idea for Sky...

When someone buys a digi-box or a dish,the Government levies a very high import tax and an equally high VAT, that way more people will be put off buying them and if they wan they're football fix they'll go to el matches or watch them on the telly.

A similar tax should be put on foreign football club memorabilia, especially Celtic stuff.

That is a great idea !!

Never thought of that ...... seems fair enough too tbh !!