FAI Seeking New League Member

**pete** · 01/10/2006, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by Mental Man

Lads , with respect, our own manager even came out and said he wants clarification on whats happening at the end of the season, is there promotion and relagation??

DO YOU KNOW WHATS HAPPENING???

This question has been answered several time: At the end of this season the current eircom league will cease to exist. New league created by the FAI, 12 teams will be invited to the Premier division based on already announced criteria that the clubs have already voted in favour of.

**anto eile** · 01/10/2006, 6:24 PM

a team shuldnt be allowed into the league siimpky o make up numbers.
a team should only be accepted if it has good enough facilities and would attract support.
letting some team in with mediocre facilities "as good" as those offerd by kildare/limerick etc should not be allowed. ie the argument that a club like castlebar etc might make that "if limerick can be in the league with the hogan park facilities then so should we" should not be accepted/
only let a team in if its a benefit to the league, not simply for a 22team cosmetic purpose

**Poor Student** · 01/10/2006, 6:47 PM

Originally Posted by pete

New league created by the FAI, 12 teams will be invited to the Premier division based on already announced criteria that the clubs have already voted in favour of.

The criteria is significantly ambiguous enough as to leave clubs utterly confused as to where they stand. To the best of my knowledge there's no date set as to when clubs will know their fate. All this leaves it very difficult to plan.

**corkharps** · 01/10/2006, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mental Man

Word around here is tha its either Carrick United or the Statoil FAI junior cup winners Waterford Crystal.

I can gaurentee you 100% that neither of these clubs will be seeking a place in the EL.

**Mental Man** · 01/10/2006, 7:14 PM

Well i am only going on what i have heard locally lads, thats all, naturally with WUFC so close i could never see it happening either.

Back to the point about whats happening at the end of the season well were still in the dark really as Poor Student has said, what a way to prepare for the next season not knowing where ur gonna be .

**steno** · 01/10/2006, 7:23 PM

Originally Posted by Kildare Lad

just a suggestion, but would a team from wexford be any good for the League??? Has a population just as big as mayo, would be good for away support to travel to due to teams nearby (Waterford, Kilkenny, Dublin teams, Kildare, Bray, etc.), in the summer they could get even bigger crowds from all the holidayers, and their underage leagues are supposed to be good.

So theres a few reasons, what do yous think? its just a thought.........

Not bad place either. Has quiet a few towns.

**eamoss** · 01/10/2006, 10:13 PM

My vote would be with Kerry or Mayo team!!!

**dcfcsteve** · 01/10/2006, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

Clifonville?

I'd consider the chances of Cliftonville joining the EL next year to be extremly low.

Firstly, it'd create a massive fire-storm with the IFA, and doubtless UEFA/FIFA would get dragged into it as well. Why would the FAI bother getting itself into such a battle ? What will CVliftonville bring to the league that is worth a massive fall-out wirh their nearest footballing neighbours ? It could feasibly see IL clubs threaten to pull-out of the Setanta Cup, for example, which would be a price way too high in return for meeting the narrow desires of an extra-jursdicial club.

Secondly - I'm not convinced the existing EL clubs would want them in anyway.

Thirdly - why would the FAI accept them even if they did want to join ? The FAI's job is to promote football in the Republic, so they've no responsibility towards helping Cliftonville. Derry were a special case, there were clear reasons for voting us in, and it has served the LOI well to have us there. I can't see any of the above being valid for Cliftonville.

**dcfcsteve** · 01/10/2006, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Population centres

Holy fcuk - the CSO can't even spell Laois !!

How seriously embarassing is that.......!

**gustavo** · 01/10/2006, 11:12 PM

I believe Laoighis is an alternative spelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laois

**dcfcsteve** · 02/10/2006, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by gustavo

I believe Laoighis is an alternative spelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laois

Well - in my 34 years as an Irishman with an interest in all things Irish, I can honestly say that's the first time I've seen it spelt like that !

Laoighis reads like a rather 'English' spelling, to aid pronounciation.

Seriously though - the County Council is called Laois, the Dail seta is called Laois, the GAA side is called Laois. Why can't the CSO use the accepted and official way of spelling the County's name....?

Why not just called it Queen's County sure.......?

**gustavo** · 02/10/2006, 12:38 AM

Surely Laois is closer phonetically to leesh than Laoighis

**Partizan** · 02/10/2006, 9:59 AM

Right back on track from our phoenetics;

Here's my forecast.
1. Castlebar Celtic
2. one of the Mullingar sides. (Athlone fans might care to comment on this)
3. team from Kerry (Tralee Dynamos) or a Kerry Co. team that would possibly entice all the GAA mullah-bandwagon brigade. Mounthawk Park in Tralee has better facilitites than many First Division clubs.
4. Outside chance - team from Wexford. Remember Mick Wallace has been investing substantially in underage football/facilities there.

**OneRedArmy** · 02/10/2006, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Partizan

3. team from Kerry (Tralee Dynamos) or a Kerry Co. team that would possibly entice all the GAA mullah-bandwagon brigade. Mounthawk Park in Tralee has better facilitites than many First Division clubs.

How about a Munster Rugby (football) team?

Perfect for all the Kerry and Tipp Munster Rugby bandwagon jumpers whose lack of knowing what a rugby ball looked like didn't stop them unearthing a previously undiscovered love for a foreign game and travelling Europe following their team.

Surely the same could be applied to football? Its not like they would know the difference in what they were watching.

**dcfcsteve** · 02/10/2006, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by gustavo

Surely Laois is closer phonetically to leesh than Laoighis

Only in modern English. Hence why places like Slough and Borough would be spelt and prounounced similarly to that wacky 'Laoighis' spelling.

God help us if there ever was an end to partition. They might put Derry down in it's medieval 'Derrie' form as well.....?

**Mr_T** · 02/10/2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

So do you know the decision date of the teams who will comprise the new league then?

In all fairness, it seems a bit mad for any club rep to be saying they don;t know whats happening at this stage.

its well documented that clubs will be invited to apply to the new body and will be scored in several categories to see who the top 12 for the Premier division will be.

50% (sort of) is for the last 4 seasons results in all competitions and this seasons finshed standings. Clubs already know where they stand on the last 4 years, and will be able to estimate or calculate exactly where they will come depending on where they finish this season and progress in cups.

The remaining 50% is for things like infrastructure, long term planning, youth development marketing etc. Clubs were all invited to a seminar on 7th September and were told the basis on which these marks were going to be allocated and what they would be expected to submit as a minimum.

They have till 31st October to make their case, including an 1 hour presetation to the IAG. Its a bit like the episode of Father Ted when they are on the plane which is going to crash and they have to write an essay saying why they should get a parachute!

The decision on the final make up is due to be issued to the FAI by the IAG in December, a couple of weeks after the playing season ends.

Like it or hate it all clubs know where they stand and should now be busy preparing their submission, not running round on the radio saying they don't know whats happening! If thats true the Waterford guy might as well submit a picture of himself in the nip, with a dog.

**JW.** · 02/10/2006, 11:39 AM

It would seem an exceptionally short space of time (ie about half-a-year) for any non-league club in Ireland to have to consider the possibility of joining the league. Whatever about getting a license, the extra budget and responsibilities would be a huge burden. As has been pointed out, Kildare's (while seemingly surviving) have not exactly thrived and interest there seems minimal.

**NY Hoop** · 02/10/2006, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by JW.

It would seem an exceptionally short space of time (ie about half-a-year) for any non-league club in Ireland to have to consider the possibility of joining the league. Whatever about getting a license, the extra budget and responsibilities would be a huge burden. As has been pointed out, Kildare's (while seemingly surviving) have not exactly thrived and interest there seems minimal.

Agree but you could say the same thing about monaghan. At least kildare have potential.

A Kerry, Mayo, Wexford or Tipp club would be welcome. A club entering from a county that already has a club would be ridiculous but then again they have previous. Woudl not be surprised if they let in another Dublin club

Have they learned from the joke CHF experience?

KOH