20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

**Nesta99** · 20/11/2025, 4:05 PM

Nigel is a secret Leterkenny/Bonagee/Cockhill fan and has been sabotaging the move to Stranrolar all this time...Wont get fooled again added to the spotify playlist!

**Burnsie** · 20/11/2025, 9:17 PM

As much as I’d love to hear more baseless speculation about which provincial towns could magically concoct a senior football structure out of thin air in the next few months, here:s some actual news : there’ll be 16 clubs involved, not 20. As you would imagine, the requirements around facilities proved too exacting for most applicants. The initial season will run from September to December. Source is an FAI board member

**legendz** · 20/11/2025, 9:40 PM

It seems more than 60 applicants are being whittled down to 16. If academy criteria is part of LoI licencing, possibly only 3 of 16 would be eligible for promotion to the First Division, subject to meeting other criteria.
A fourth tier coming into consideration for those missing the cut might resemble more broadly what a pyramid will look like in practice. Clubs getting to a certain level but not meeting the criteria to go higher unless they achieve the necessary licencing requirements.
It'll be interesting in time to see what level the LSL and MSL will align at, and also if there will be regional leagues formed at a similar level for district leagues to potentially feed in to.
If any new regions then were to follow in the footsteps of Kerry to build through the youth leagues upwards, there should be an agreeable level that a club like that could join.

**Burnsie** · 20/11/2025, 9:43 PM

Anything below level 3 is a pipe dream. I’d say we’re getting the A Championship mark II and that’s it

**pineapple stu** · 20/11/2025, 9:59 PM

Burnsie - is that 16 including B teams?

**nigel-harps1954** · 20/11/2025, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by nr637

Maybe the fact that other non-league clubs such as Letterkenny Rovers, Bonagee United, and Cockhill Celtic from the Donegal area are seriously considering the new thiird tier league. Maybe it is time some new ideas for soccer in the area. I think the whole Finn Harps stadium build saga has frustrated soccer people in the area and many may want a new club to follow with a different agenda!

This one is too fantastic to delete. Can I pin this post somewhere? Top work.

**Roones26** · 21/11/2025, 9:13 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

As much as I’d love to hear more baseless speculation about which provincial towns could magically concoct a senior football structure out of thin air in the next few months, here:s some actual news : there’ll be 16 clubs involved, not 20. As you would imagine, the requirements around facilities proved too exacting for most applicants. The initial season will run from September to December. Source is an FAI board member

Obviously I think everyone would like to have got the 20 but 16 for the first season is near enough as to be no difference

**Burnsie** · 21/11/2025, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Burnsie - is that 16 including B teams?

I don't know, sorry.

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2025, 10:30 AM

Obviously if 10 of the 16 are B teams, then you're looking at only 6 teams interested in joining the LoI (and meeting criteria I guess), which is pretty crappy after all the time spent on it.

**Buckett** · 21/11/2025, 10:34 AM

There might only be six teams ready now but lots of other clubs showed an interest. They now know what they need to do to make the step up. Some of them probably will start working towards that and some will think it's too much for them.
Six teams joining the LOI though is a positive thing

**sbgawa** · 21/11/2025, 11:00 AM

I am still hoping that promotion to the second tier is a possibility for B teams

**Roones26** · 21/11/2025, 11:15 AM

I also think the fact that clubs were rejected shows that a) there was an actual process with criteria and b) a focus on getting it right rather than letting 4 more in to met the target

Though obliviously as has been pointed out 16 new clubs v 10 B Teams is a huge difference

**pineapple stu** · 21/11/2025, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

Six teams joining the LOI though is a positive thing

Yes and no. If they're weak teams and if there's no interest from the MSL/LSL, then it may have no real impact at all. If there was a move from the LSL/MSL into a regional third tier, then longer-term that would have a much better impact.

**EatYerGreens** · 21/11/2025, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

It seems more than 60 applicants are being whittled down to 16. If academy criteria is part of LoI licencing, possibly only 3 of 16 would be eligible for promotion to the First Division, subject to meeting other criteria.
A fourth tier coming into consideration for those missing the cut might resemble more broadly what a pyramid will look like in practice. Clubs getting to a certain level but not meeting the criteria to go higher unless they achieve the necessary licencing requirements.
It'll be interesting in time to see what level the LSL and MSL will align at, and also if there will be regional leagues formed at a similar level for district leagues to potentially feed in to.
If any new regions then were to follow in the footsteps of Kerry to build through the youth leagues upwards, there should be an agreeable level that a club like that could join.

Right - what's everyone's guesses as to who the lucky 16 are? Let's see your lists !

(I jest...

)