Football - All-ireland League Takes Step Forward
Arthur Duffy Reports
Tuesday 27th December 2005
DERRY CITY, Glentoran, Shelbourne and Linfield are all understood to be actively involved in making the notion of an All-Ireland League a reality with secret meetings having already taken place to discuss the issue in Dundalk four months ago.
And it's clear that some of the bigger clubs in both the eircom and Irish Leagues are now fully committed to the proposal which could become reality within the next four years.
The highly controversial issue, which, it must be said, would have been frowned upon in bygone years within Irish League circles, has experienced a total turnaround with Belfast's "big two" now believed to be totally in favour of such a move.
And while there will be no shortage of difficulties --particularly within the smaller clubs on both sides of the border - in attempting to push the proposals forward, the "Journal" has learned that any club entering a new All-Ireland League would be invited to apply to join.
While the clubs involved have refused to comment publicly on the development, it is recognised that staging a meeting with representatives of all the clubs in both leagues would never find agreement; therefore, the bigger clubs are believed to be prepared to go it alone and, should be it be necessary, actually break away from their current leagues.
One Belfast source, who refused to be named, insisted: "It is the only way forward for senior football on both sides of the border."
He added: "I can confirm that the clubs contacted are fully behind the All-Ireland League proposal. Both the Irish League and eircom League are experiencing dwindling attendance figures with so many of the so-called larger clubs now complaining that the involvement of too many small clubs has had a detrimental effect.
"It's clear that there are not enough recognised senior players to service so many clubs and, as has always been the case in the Irish League, the smaller clubs depend heavily on visits from the larger clubs to survive.
Top of agenda
"It's now widely recognised that this simply cannot be allowed to continue and, with the political situation changing, an All-Ireland League fulltime league has been placed top of the agenda.
"There's no doubt there will be casualties on both sides of the border, but it's envisaged that an All-Ireland Premier League must be the starting point. The possibility of a First Division has also been discussed with relegation and promotion to be introduced after an agreed settling-in period," added the source.
Both leagues are also looking towards the financial rewards to be reaped from progression in European competition and with a number of clubs having already won their first round matches in Europe, teams from both Northern Ireland and the Republic believe that they must move on and, at some stage, maybe have a team competing in the Group Stages of the Champions League or U.E.F.A. Cup competitions.
Interestingly, Portadown have not been mentioned among the top clubs in the Irish League and, while Ronnie McFall's side are also believed to be in favour of such a development, much will depend on U.E.F.A. Licensing and the criteria which goes with it.
And included in such criteria is not only financial backing and business plans but the presence of properly structured underage academies and youth teams.
Indeed, with so many teams opting not to apply for the annual U.E.F.A. licences, it's clear that such organisations will not be invited to apply for the league's top tier, should it ever get off the ground.
Our source, however, remains adamant that, if senior football is to survive in Ireland, changes have to be made - and "sooner rather than later." "With all clubs expected to fully embrace U.E.F.A. Licensing, it goes without saying that European football's governing body will support any such proposals; but there's no doubt that the power brokers within the I.F.A. and the F.A.I. may find great difficulty.
"The same situation could apply to annual European qualification and with both leagues currently guaranteed four places - Champions League, U.E.F.A. Cup (2) and InterToto Cup - it's guaranteed that problems will also arise on that front," he added.
Commenting on Derry City's support for such a proposal, the source said this would not come as a major surprise.
"Since they left the Irish League, Derry have always claimed that any return to Irish League football would have to be within the confines of an All-Ireland League. To be fair, they hold the U.E.F.A. Licence and have the necessary support to be included.
"I've no doubt either that Derry City would warmly welcome large numbers of visiting fans from the other big clubs to the Brandywell.
He concluded: "Meetings have taken place and it's now clear that Glentoran, Linfield, Shelbourne and Derry City are fully behind the proposals and, while the smaller clubs would clearly dominate the voting rights on any such change, a breakaway league is a big possibility. After all, how did the Champions League and F.A. Premiership get off the ground?", he concluded.
Setanta Cup
With so much talk going on behind the scenes, many believe the forthcoming Setanta Cup competition --particularly the matches involving Derry, Linfield, Glentoran and Shelbourne in Pool 'A' - could have a major bearing on any future All-Ireland League.
All four clubs anticipate significant increases in attendances at their home games and all four see this season's competition as the "acid test" for change.
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