FAI EGM - Merger

**Mr A** · 27/09/2006, 6:38 PM

will they be passive or active?

Passive, obviously. Active management of the league would give us all heart attacks!

**steno** · 27/09/2006, 8:07 PM

Any chance of a decision on how many teams willl be in the whole league next season 20 or 22?.

Or do you think they might adopt a wait and see approach (see if anyone folds at the seasons end)?

**Mr A** · 27/09/2006, 8:41 PM

I think basically they intend to continue with 21.

I can't see them kick anyone out and if they were bringing a team in they'd need to have made it known by now.

**steno** · 27/09/2006, 8:47 PM

Doubt they will kick out a team myself.

But if they were to invite a team at this stage or even at the end of the season it would be the season after the next before they would be up to standard unless the facilities already exist.

So will it be a 9 team division one next season?

**Mr A** · 27/09/2006, 9:03 PM

Yeah, so there'll be 4 weekends off for each team, bit of a disaster really. The FAI should have at least invited applications (maybe they still will) and if none where good enough then so be it- but why not give the non-league clubs at least a chance to try?

**steno** · 27/09/2006, 9:15 PM

They probably will invite applications but whether anyone will apply and when the FAI intend on doing it will be interesting.

The new A league will have be open soon for applications for non-league teams as well so maybe they will try and coax any non league interested in joining this, maybe like one of the teams participating in the Under-21 league into Division One.

But have no idea when they are going to invite applications for this either.

Hopefully these kind of issues will be on their agenda

**Billy Lord** · 27/09/2006, 9:22 PM

If the FAI are taking the new league seriously

, now's the time to make the club total 20, 22 or even 24. But are there three new takers available for an even two dozen?
If anything, a 20-team league makes more sense, with two divisions of ten, playing each other four times. Bohs should obviously be sacrificed for the greater good.

In fairness, it's not an easy choice as most non-league clubs either don't care or can't afford EL membership.

**steno** · 27/09/2006, 9:36 PM

Two divisions of 12 would be ideal IMO, FAI should give some incentive to those interested in joining like maybe waivering the membership fees for example until the new clubs are on their feet.

Membership fee is 5,000 for A championship and think it is the same for Division 1

**soccerc** · 27/09/2006, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by steno

Two divisions of 12 would be ideal IMO, FAI should give some incentive to those interested in joining like maybe waivering the membership fees for example until the new clubs are on their feet.

Membership fee is 5,000 for A championship and think it is the same for Division 1

�5000 would be the least of the new entrants worries (if they can find clubs willling to sacrifice their souls).

Even an all amateur club would incur costs of not less than �100,000 plus their ground would have to meet minimum UEFA Licencing standards.

**NY Hoop** · 28/09/2006, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Billy Lord

If the FAI are taking the new league seriously

, now's the time to make the club total 20, 22 or even 24. But are there three new takers available for an even two dozen?
If anything, a 20-team league makes more sense, with two divisions of ten, playing each other four times. Bohs should obviously be sacrificed for the greater good.

In fairness, it's not an easy choice as most non-league clubs either don't care or can't afford EL membership.

100& spot on. Monaghan to be asked to join the A league would be fair IMO.

The existing clubs are barely getting by so bringing in another club is ridiculous. Apparently the FAI have invited applicants but hopefully these clubs will see how prohibitive it will be.

KOH

**Poor Student** · 28/09/2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

100& spot on. Monaghan to be asked to join the A league would be fair IMO.

It would be absolute nonsense. They're managing fine and have no need to step down.

**Magicme** · 28/09/2006, 10:31 AM

No I agree with NY Hoop....we should be pushed out of the First Division for lack of facilities, lack of development of squads, lack of licensing, lack of funding....sure we dont want to be part of the league at all....

Anyways....this thing of having 4 weeks break....undoutably (and rightly so from their perspective) the PFAI will inisist that the players get paid during this enforced break and as a result clubs in the first division who will already be struggling financially will have to dig deep to pay their players with no gate receipts (no matter how small they are they contribute) or bar takings to help pay for this....will the FAI provide the deficit??

**NY Hoop** · 28/09/2006, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

It would be absolute nonsense. They're managing fine and have no need to step down.

See the IMO part? IMO they are going nowhere and there wouldnt be a storm of protest. They wouldnt be folding just stepping down a few divisions. Harsh I know but it is about potential after all and in my book you could go back there in 10 or 20 years and they would still be at the bottom of the first with 50 people watching a monaghan team full of Dubs.

KOH

**dublinred** · 28/09/2006, 1:15 PM

Cant see any changes to the current setup now that DC are gone, bottom team down , 1st and 2nd up and 3rd and second last in a play off. If don't want UCD they should just kick them out rather than relegating them as they would get promoted anyway the following season given the talent at their disposal.

**Schumi** · 28/09/2006, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

bottom team down

Can you see Waterford being relegated if they finish bottom?

**steno** · 28/09/2006, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by soccerc

�5000 would be the least of the new entrants worries (if they can find clubs willling to sacrifice their souls).

Even an all amateur club would incur costs of not less than �100,000 plus their ground would have to meet minimum UEFA Licencing standards.

Was using that as an example, FAI would have to give a lot more as an incentive for new teams to set up.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/09/2006, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by londonred

don't want UCD they should just kick them out rather than relegating them as they would get promoted anyway the following season given the talent at their disposal.

I don't see how it would be possible for them to just kick us out of the league.

It would be difficult for us to go straight back up as we would lose many of our best players.

**Mr_T** · 28/09/2006, 2:53 PM

The A league doesnt start till the season after next so Mons are safe from NY Hoops big axe for another year

Can't see any new team coming into the leage at this late stage. I think it will be a 9 team first which as stated will be a balls, with one team having no game every weekend.

9 teams maximum that is, have heard rumours about one or even two Div 1 clubs considering pulling out at the end of the season.