2025 Licensing Thread

[2 Year Contract]

All that says is that the stewards in question are rubbish!

Have you ever used ‘foul language’ inside Oriel Park? If so you ought to be ashamed of yourself as that too is against ground regulations

[yurt]

I'd a question around the 2025 fixture list that I thought might fit better in here instead of starting a new thread. I think we can expect the fixture list to be released in mid-December.

Do we expect the FAI to make any changes to the calendar for 2025? I know everyone has an opinion on what should be done and the FAI to be fair to them seem to have thought through a lot of these problems and come to the conclusion of the status quo.

I've heard Dan McDonnell say on LOI Central that the reason the season ends when it does is that there's issues getting the Aviva any later and the FAI want to have the Cup Final being the conclusion of the season. Is the reason for that the Rugby internationals? There was rugby Friday and the cup Sunday so I'm not sure what the conflict would be by having the cup final later in November? Can anyone that knows how those agreements work give an insight?

After the Dundalk v Pats cancellation fiasco some rules on that will need to be set in stone too. Would just ideally like for there to be a couple less double game weeks in the summer. Attendances usually tick back up again in September so think extending the season at the back end would be the way to go if it's possible.

[Nesta99]

Have you ever used ‘foul language’ inside Oriel Park? If so you ought to be ashamed of yourself as that too is against ground regulations

I have never used foul language never!!!! Not all offences are equal. I have actually been at games in the UK where fans were ejected for use of foul language. Taking cans in to a ground, bad language, whatever ground regulations picked on, they're issues or they're not and if they're not then they shouldnt be against regulations. What's to stop some plank who let off fireworks, being banned, and arguing that it is personal cause a whole bunch of other regulations are flouted and nothing is done albeit the banned dont seem to stay banned yet there is bewilderment when fans fight on the pitch or let off flares and it costs. Its not a personal issue, I just think fans should respect regulations, not encourage the less capable of behaving from costing the club, or push the club to change policy. Be less half baked about things. A reasonable compromise for fans that wish to drink on the terraces is that drink is purchased from the club and even ask fans to use plastic containers, designate areas of a ground where drinking, smoking, even pyro can happen and quit the rant when lino gets clocked with a half drunk tin of dutch gold when stewards cant be bothered.

Aiside from Oriel specifically, there's little that annoys me at games as much as where drining is allowed and someone scores and some halfwits think its great to chuck their drink over as many as they can, its almost as anoying as having to sit at football games. At one cup final I watched a chap in the middle tier pour his beer over those below in fits of giggles. Could he have done the same with a coke, yes but if he was drinking coke he may not have thought it such a great laugh. I cant recall which game but one of the quickest sobering up moments i ever witnessed was lads horsing pints in to them under the stand (could have been Croke Park), nice and rowdy until one copped that it was non-alcoholic beer only on sale. I vaguely recall a poster on here telling a similar story themselves.

[Another Bohemia]

I'd a question around the 2025 fixture list that I thought might fit better in here instead of starting a new thread. I think we can expect the fixture list to be released in mid-December.

Do we expect the FAI to make any changes to the calendar for 2025? I know everyone has an opinion on what should be done and the FAI to be fair to them seem to have thought through a lot of these problems and come to the conclusion of the status quo.

I've heard Dan McDonnell say on LOI Central that the reason the season ends when it does is that there's issues getting the Aviva any later and the FAI want to have the Cup Final being the conclusion of the season. Is the reason for that the Rugby internationals? There was rugby Friday and the cup Sunday so I'm not sure what the conflict would be by having the cup final later in November? Can anyone that knows how those agreements work give an insight?

After the Dundalk v Pats cancellation fiasco some rules on that will need to be set in stone too. Would just ideally like for there to be a couple less double game weeks in the summer. Attendances usually tick back up again in September so think extending the season at the back end would be the way to go if it's possible.

There appears to be autumn series rugby and nations league internationals throughout November. December is quiet, only 1 rugby game scheduled but they also used to hold corporate events in the Aviva i.e Christmas parties so there are still things happening there in December but you could probably target the first week of December as a cup final but then how many international breaks are in the league season, the original goal of summer football was better playing surfaces and improving European results so will the teams playing Europe get enough games to be ready, how do the euro games then affect the schedule? A lot of questions to be answered for and extra few weeks to the season. If the league keeps the same start date does ending in December mean players will have to be paid more weeks wages? Some clubs would certainly be against that as well. I think the calendar has its problems but it's also a compromise by the league, FAI and clubs to suit all as best they can so I'd be surprised if it has any significant changes. Maybe they could look at organizing home games consecutively for euro teams to minimize travel and risk of injury but then you probably hinder other clubs who don't get euro money.

[total hoofball]

Weather is a factor as to why the league finishing dates were bumped from mid-November during the 2000's to end of October during the 2010's, it's only because of covid is why the league bounced back into November finishing dates which is gradually going back towards a finish of the last Friday in October

I can't see the league finishing stretching the season to end of November with increased odds of crap pitches or postponements coinciding with the business end of the season most likely thing I could see is the league starting earlier first Friday in February

[thebronze14]

Weather is a factor as to why the league finishing dates were bumped from mid-November during the 2000's to end of October during the 2010's, it's only because of covid is why the league bounced back into November finishing dates which is gradually going back towards a finish of the last Friday in October

I can't see the league finishing stretching the season to end of November with increased odds of crap pitches or postponements coinciding with the business end of the season most likely thing I could see is the league starting earlier first Friday in February

Weathers always better now than February!

[yurt]

Dan actually brought up the calendar again in this weeks LOI Central. It sounds like the reason for season ending in early Nov isn't so much the Aviva's availability, it's the international window in the middle of November. So if they wanted to extend the season they'd probably need to do it by 3/4 weeks instead of just the 1/2 they'd probably like to.

[total hoofball]

Weathers always better now than February!

It's easier to reschedule a postponed game early in the season compared a postponed game in the business end in November when you can have competition impacts on titles/European spots/relegation

[Nesta99]

Dan actually brought up the calendar again in this weeks LOI Central. It sounds like the reason for season ending in early Nov isn't so much the Aviva's availability, it's the international window in the middle of November. So if they wanted to extend the season they'd probably need to do it by 3/4 weeks instead of just the 1/2 they'd probably like to.

Are any club not on 52 week player contracts? It previously would add to cost, this season eg almost 100k for Dundalk. But if 52 week contracts are the norm would that extra month matter that much? Off season is long, season heavily front weighted, group stage football could be more and more common so an extra few weeks of games toward December could help keep things fresh.

[nigel-harps1954]

I would wager the vast majority of clubs aren't on 52 week deals. Huge expense during the off season when there's little to no income.

[EalingGreen]

As an aside, Bonnyrigg Rose have just been docked 6 points by the SPFL for having a sloping pitch, in contravention of their League Licence! It's kinda complicated, but this seems to explain it:

"When Bonnyrigg Rose won promotion to League Two, they required only an Entry Level licence to be allowed to compete in the division. That rule was changed last year, meaning that a Bronze Level licence is now the minimum requirement for a club to comply with SPFL rule ‘D4’.
Bonnyrigg were granted a derogation – an exception from this rule - at the beginning of the season as they club intimated that their intention was to install an artificial surface at their New Dundas Park home, but having confirmed this will not be possible, they were downgraded to an Entry Level licence by the Scottish FA in September due to the condition of their pitch.
Therefore, they have been found to be in breach of SPFL rules."
https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireSto...fter-115807795

It's hard to see how they are gaining any sort of advantage, when both teams have to swap ends at half-time. In contrast, the SPFL allows artificial pitches, even up to Premier level, some of which are pretty awful. Meaning some clubs get to play on plastic for over half their games, whereas the rest with grass pitches only play a small percentage of games on plastic.

And if The Rosey Posey* can't raise the money needed to remedy it (£100k+) before next season, will that mean another deduction?

Bloody ridiculous (imo).


* - Fabulous nickname btw!

[Nesta99]

I would wager the vast majority of clubs aren't on 52 week deals. Huge expense during the off season when there's little to no income.

When it costs the same over a financial year I dont get why the problem really. Surely pretty basic budgeting, ensuring that money is available each week unless, like Dundalk, things were relying on week to week cashflow which always catches up in the end when only accumulating debt. But if not robbing peter to pay paul then setting aside money in a wages a/c so it covers 52 or 12 payements (and not raided), why the fuss about it. Im not an accountant so maybe there is a better reason. I vaguely recall players were able to draw some welfare payments when contracts (or more payments) ended over the close season which bosted their income (52 week worth of pay over say 40 weeks + weekly welfare claim), but I think thats ended and was a bit dodgy in the first place.

[placid casual]

I would wager the vast majority of clubs aren't on 52 week deals. Huge expense during the off season when there's little to no income.

Any professional clubs that are not on 52 week deals are not very professional.
People in a profession except to get paid every week/fortnight/month without exception.

[yurt]

Are any club not on 52 week player contracts?

I'm guessing pretty much none of the first division clubs are and with the playoff between the divisions they need to run on the same or similar schedules.

[Nesta99]

As an aside, Bonnyrigg Rose have just been docked 6 points by the SPFL for having a sloping pitch, in contravention of their League Licence! It's kinda complicated, but this seems to explain it:

"When Bonnyrigg Rose won promotion to League Two, they required only an Entry Level licence to be allowed to compete in the division. That rule was changed last year, meaning that a Bronze Level licence is now the minimum requirement for a club to comply with SPFL rule ‘D4’.
Bonnyrigg were granted a derogation – an exception from this rule - at the beginning of the season as they club intimated that their intention was to install an artificial surface at their New Dundas Park home, but having confirmed this will not be possible, they were downgraded to an Entry Level licence by the Scottish FA in September due to the condition of their pitch.
Therefore, they have been found to be in breach of SPFL rules."
https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireSto...fter-115807795

It's hard to see how they are gaining any sort of advantage, when both teams have to swap ends at half-time. In contrast, the SPFL allows artificial pitches, even up to Premier level, some of which are pretty awful. Meaning some clubs get to play on plastic for over half their games, whereas the rest with grass pitches only play a small percentage of games on plastic.

And if The Rosey Posey* can't raise the money needed to remedy it (£100k+) before next season, will that mean another deduction?

Bloody ridiculous (imo).


* - Fabulous nickname btw!

I suppose the advantage was had before promotion sort of. Say if they didnt meet requirements they wouldnt be promoted, a club that invested in facilities would take their slot. Or they would drop to the tier that their licence allows. Unless they got a derrogation on the basis of future development like a new pitch but then back tracked, spent money on players but cant sort the pitch in a very old LoI *cough* manner. So advantage may not be considered a matchday thing as as you say both sides play the same disadvantage. Sure the Brandywell Hill was rarely an issue for visiting teams if not winning a league between 1997 and the current pitch nstallation is any any guage.

[pineapple stu]

Just being used to how to play the slope is an advantage too

Remember the Tolka groundsman on telly years ago talking about a slope near the touchlines - Shels would know bouncing balls stayed in more often than you'd expect and knew not to give up on them

[Nesta99]

Just being used to how to play the slope is an advantage too

Remember the Tolka groundsman on telly years ago talking about a slope near the touchlines - Shels would know bouncing balls stayed in more often than you'd expect and knew not to give up on them

Or artificial surfaces, leting grass grow, not watering a surface, added familiarity of the eccentricities of a pitch and its dimensions. Good old fashioned home advantage!!

[nigel-harps1954]

Any professional clubs that are not on 52 week deals are not very professional.
People in a profession except to get paid every week/fortnight/month without exception.

That's all well and good with wealthy financial backers and millions of Euro made in European money, but back in the real world some clubs are still living week to week and rely heavily on match night income, and other fundraising streams.

[placid casual]

And they are the ones that should remain semi professional. You kinda missed my point there.
IF a club wants to be professional in this league they should have finances in place that ensures they can pay 52 week contracts- THAT is the real world you speak of.

[Mr A]

As an aside, Bonnyrigg Rose have just been docked 6 points by the SPFL for having a sloping pitch, in contravention of their League Licence! It's kinda complicated, but this seems to explain it:

"When Bonnyrigg Rose won promotion to League Two, they required only an Entry Level licence to be allowed to compete in the division. That rule was changed last year, meaning that a Bronze Level licence is now the minimum requirement for a club to comply with SPFL rule ‘D4’.
Bonnyrigg were granted a derogation – an exception from this rule - at the beginning of the season as they club intimated that their intention was to install an artificial surface at their New Dundas Park home, but having confirmed this will not be possible, they were downgraded to an Entry Level licence by the Scottish FA in September due to the condition of their pitch.
Therefore, they have been found to be in breach of SPFL rules."
https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireSto...fter-115807795

It's hard to see how they are gaining any sort of advantage, when both teams have to swap ends at half-time. In contrast, the SPFL allows artificial pitches, even up to Premier level, some of which are pretty awful. Meaning some clubs get to play on plastic for over half their games, whereas the rest with grass pitches only play a small percentage of games on plastic.

And if The Rosey Posey* can't raise the money needed to remedy it (£100k+) before next season, will that mean another deduction?

Bloody ridiculous (imo).


* - Fabulous nickname btw!

Rosey Posey.... ROSEY POSEY!!!???!!!!

I support them now and will not have a bad word said against them