Eircom League votes on radical revamp

**sligoman** · 25/01/2006, 9:22 PM

Originally Posted by chippie0001

Just curious but why are Bohs out of this. We have the biggest support in Dublin based on the attendances here, not much more than Shels but still the biggest. We own our own ground, unlike Shels, Rovers and sort of Pats who own most of theirs. We are the oldest club and after Rovers probably the best known in Dublin. also to Bohs fans where do these rumours come from that the FAI want us out? Not doubting it but is there not an over reaction to rumours.

and Sligo Rovers too?

.

**pineapple stu** · 25/01/2006, 9:38 PM

Originally Posted by Conor H

Ah the "club" invited Genesis to come down and have an open forum.

The NLSA also invited Genesis to an open forum. They weren't interested. They weren't even interested in the second consultation mentioned in their own report. You can't blame people for being cynical when the only people Genesis are talking to are from the club who stand to gain most.

Originally Posted by Conor H

We'll be there on merit as will any other team who gets there.The league needs re-structuring...it has to start somewhere.If you want to talk about getting there on football grounds...GUFC will win the league this year anyway.

Galway will not be there on merit, nor will a lot of teams who get there. The teams who have won the places on merit will be the 12 teams who qualify through the league on the pitch this season. It's quite simple really. Maybe Galway will win the First or the play-off, but until then, they should not be invited to the Premier Division.

Originally Posted by Dodge

With respect pineapple, some of them don't as there is now way they have the facilities deemed neccesary by the club license

Incorrect actually - the facilities section was overlooked last year in favour of getting the other four sections in order. Also, in acknowledgement of the fact that clubs can't turn around and install 1500 seats while the FAI are busy getting the grant money frozen, plans for a new ground are allowed in lieu for the time being. That covers quite a lot of the teams you're alluding to.

**Dodge** · 25/01/2006, 9:41 PM

"overlooked" you say... That doens't mean they weren't there...

**pineapple stu** · 25/01/2006, 9:48 PM

Overlooked is the wrong word, sorry. It was said in the UEFA Licencing manual for 2005 that facilities would not be a criterion last season. (They were all B or C requirements or something).

**Mr A** · 25/01/2006, 9:55 PM

Given that clubs also don't have to have a current tax cert this year, the financial requirements are a bit lax as well....

**Breifne** · 25/01/2006, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Galway Harps

Given that clubs also don't have to have a current tax cert this year, the financial requirements are a bit lax as well....

I have to say i'm getting bored with all this conjecture and crap. Just because it's printed here doesn't make it fact. Clubs do need a tax clearance cert to obtain a licence, just like the "overlooked" facilities issue is actually where clubs have shown the FAI their 5 year Infrastructure Development plan, which would have everything up to premier division standard by five years time.

I think people should actually go to the bother of reading the manual for the licensing application (all 100+ pages of it.)

**MariborKev** · 25/01/2006, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by Breifne

I think people should actually go to the bother of reading the manual for the licensing application (all 100+ pages of it.)

Perhaps those in the Licensing Department could get the ball rolling and read it themselves.......

**Mr A** · 25/01/2006, 10:56 PM

Having a current tax certificate is not an A requirement, it's a C requirement. Just because it's on this board doesn't mean it's not true, and I'm pretty sure on this one.

**OneRedArmy** · 26/01/2006, 12:01 AM

The responses on here are unsurprising.

Broadly, the fans of those clubs who will most likely fail to meet enhanced infrastructure and other requirements which will necessitate significantly increased revenue are firmly against. This are the turkeys who won't vote for Christmas and to be honest I don't blame them. Why sign your own death warrant, ie effectively condemning yourself to First Division obscurity ad infinitum?

But to mix metaphors completely

I'd say the bus will be leaving soon whether the turkeys are on it or not. Maybe not this season, but given that exploratory discussions have taken place re an All-Ireland League, some sort of radical shake up that involves cherry-picking teams isn't far away (whether through subjective or "objective" means).

Whilst this thread has been dominated by fans of clubs who have every right to be threatened, lets not make assumptions based on this that this is soley the idea of the FAI. I'd say it has a lot of support, maybe not 2/3rd majority, but certainly 2/3 of the revenue in the League. And in the professional game, thats what counts.

**Dodge** · 26/01/2006, 7:18 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Whilst this thread has been dominated by fans of clubs who have every right to be threatened, lets not make assumptions based on this that this is soley the idea of the FAI. I'd say it has a lot of support, maybe not 2/3rd majority, but certainly 2/3 of the revenue in the League. And in the professional game, thats what counts.

I'm not sure thats true. We've Derry, Cork and Longford fans on here and everyone agrees they're pretty much guarenteed to be in there. The people posting here are the same people who usually post about this thing.

Just wondering how you reckon 2/3 of the league's revenue is made up?

**Macy** · 26/01/2006, 8:17 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I'm against any factors which cannot be quantified coming into the equation (marketabilty etc)

Exactly. And there also should be required standards not some ranking system that they'll make up at the time that they can change to suit who they want in.

**Macy** · 26/01/2006, 8:24 AM

Compare these leaks about formats, rule changes etc to the leaks about Staunton getting the international job. Is this the FAI throwing the info out there to get the negative reaction out of the way before the official launch? Given it's a proven FAI tatic, maybe the people writting it off should take it a bit more seriously.

**gufct** · 26/01/2006, 8:31 AM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

That's all because Galway have been selected as a team to get an automatic promotion. Why did genesis visit you and no other club? The clubs chalked down for a automatic relegation could work as hard as they liked and would still be relegated.

and John McNiece was coming to Galway on business so we set up a general forum open to everyone and advertised it.We had upto 80 people including a large group of local business leaders and politicians as well as fans.It was one of the most informative meetings we ever had and Genesis were only a small part of it we had other presentations there as well.

Every club in the country should be holding open forums like this so their supporters can see what if any work the clubs are doing to ensure they make the cut in 2007.

**pineapple stu** · 26/01/2006, 9:05 AM

Originally Posted by gufct

Because we asked them...Every club in the country should be holding open forums like this so their supporters can see what if any work the clubs are doing to ensure they make the cut in 2007.

What a superb idea. Maybe the NLSA should get in touch with Genesis to set up a forum among other clubs. Oh no wait - they did and Genesis said they couldn't be bothered/"didn't have the time".

Genesis are every bit as corrupt/incompetent as the FAI and it's a disgrace that any sort of ridiculous proposal like this can be made on a report such as theirs. Galway fans would really want to start thinking about the league in general ahead of their own club. Because the way the FAI want to do things, we'll be left with about eight or nine clubs in a few years' time, with everyone else gone bust.

**bohs til i die** · 26/01/2006, 9:07 AM

There is a lot wrong with football in this country. Those problems wont be solved with franchises or possible marketability. Proper application of the Licence scheme, proper plans for stadium development and proper funding from Government level is required. Most of all league placings should be decided on the pitch. If a club fails to meet the Licence criteria, there should be pre-agreed punishments [points deductions] for different crimes.

Higgins,

If Shels win the title this year and then get told they are in Division 1 next year, are you seriously suggesting you'd just accept it and get on with it? If so you are an idiot. If you want Franchise football then go to America. I see absolutely no reason why any EL fan, who is a football fan at the end of the day, should accept franchise football.I think it will be the death of clubs. Much as I despise Shels & Rovers, dislike Pats as a rival club, I can still respect the true fans of these clubs because like me they support an EL team.

**Breifne** · 26/01/2006, 9:37 AM

Originally Posted by Breifne

I think people should actually go to the bother of reading the manual for the licensing application (all 100+ pages of it.)

Took my own advice, because i was outraged that the tax clearance issue could possibly be a B or C criteria.

The facts are:

LEG 1.06 (Tax Clearance Certificate)
The Licence Applicant must provide the Licensor with a copy of its Tax Clearance Certificate for the most recent tax year.
If the Licence applicant is not the trading entity of the football club, then the Tax Clearance Certificate for the trading entity must be submitted in addition to that of the Licence Applicant.

UEFA & Premier Licence: A Criteria
First Division Licence: B Criteria

For the record this is what is meant by A, B or C criteria (just to quote fact, not conjecture)

A Criteria (in general)
Must be fulfilled as indicated. However the manual offers possible alternatives to fulfil certain criteria. Non-fulfilment of the criteria will result in the Licence Applicant being refused a licence and the club may not be granted admission to the FAI National League Premier Division and UEFA Club Competitions

B Criteria (in general)
Must be fulfilled as indicated. Non fulfilment of the criteria will result in the club being sanctioned as described in the FAI Club Licensing Manual, but cannot lead to exclusion from the FAI National League Premier Division and UEFA Club Competitions.

C Criteria (in general)
Best Practice is recommended only, thus the Licence Applicant has no obligation to fulfil the criteria for the moment. However, these criteria may be re-categorised as A, B or C criteria at a future stage.

**Jerry The Saint** · 26/01/2006, 9:53 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers1

have a league based on who can sell the most shirts

This part I agree with. As Genesis use this site to research the eircom League (see Attendance figures in the report), this will guarantee a place for Pats and Dublin City. I'm sure they could ask the manager of Champion Sports on Grafton Street to get figures for the remaining 8 clubs to make up the new Prim-�ire Liga.

**Poor Student** · 26/01/2006, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint

I'm sure they could ask the manager of Champion Sports on Grafton Street to get figures for the remaining 8 clubs to make up the new Prim-�ire Liga.

Nah, that would be too much trouble for the boys at Genesis.

**monutdfc** · 26/01/2006, 10:10 AM

What I've heard is that clubs who fail to get a licence will be allowed to play in the league, but won't get a vote. There's enough subjectivity in the licence criteria to ensure that it will only take the smallest bit of gerrymandering to ensure that the proposals get through

**Bald Student** · 26/01/2006, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by monutdfc

What I've heard is that clubs who fail to get a licence will be allowed to play in the league, but won't get a vote. There's enough subjectivity in the licence criteria to ensure that it will only take the smallest bit of gerrymandering to ensure that the proposals get through

Won't get a vote if the new proposals are brought in or won't get to vote on the new peoposals?