Make up of new league announced in The Sun

**fbtn** · 20/11/2006, 6:30 PM

Originally Posted by passerrby

you were making sense until you mentioned harps as a possible contender that is just no possible

I still can't believe that so many people seem to know nothing about this process. Dundalk were never going to get promoted this year, even had they won the First Division. Their record this last four years is dreadful.

Our four year record includes 12th in the Premier in 2005, First Division winners (2004), third place and playoff final (2003-04), runners up and playoff semi-final (2003).

Compare that with the likes of Dundalk or Galway and we've a decent enough four year record. Sligo's great placing this season will have saved them as their four year record wasn't good either. UCD and Bray's were quite similar to our own.

If we had of had a half decent finish this year, we'd probably have got in. Even third would probably have been enough for us. As I see it, we don't deserve it anyway as our showings this year have been downright embarrasing. We have fallen a long way.

BTW Monaghan dude. The mere fact that senior football survives at all in Monaghan should leave you believing that anything is possible regarding football in this league.

**mypost** · 20/11/2006, 7:46 PM

Originally Posted by harps1954

I have assumed Waterford will win the play-off.

Dundalk will in all likelihood win the play-off, as they are the better side. The result however is likely to make little difference, as Drogheda and Dundalk are from the same county, and in that case, will be no contest as regards which of them qualifies next year, and who doesn't imo.

**Mr A** · 20/11/2006, 7:51 PM

Dundalk will in all likelihood win the play-off, as they are the better side. The result however is likely to make little difference, as Drogheda and Dundalk are from the same county, and in that case, will be no contest as regards which of them qualifies next year, and who doesn't.

Only 10% goes for target market etc, so even if that were a problem it wouldn't have a huge impact. What messes Dundalk up is the 30% for 4 year record.

**oriel** · 20/11/2006, 8:49 PM

There is no argument that the prev 3 seasons prior to this one, we were shocking, pure and utter rubbish, I cant even see a play off win saving us, for my money we had to win the lge to have any chance.

I hope I'm wrong though.................

**sconn** · 20/11/2006, 9:09 PM

i think galway have a ok chance because their location is good and their well organised offf the pitch and not so bad on the pitch

**fbtn** · 20/11/2006, 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by Rogue Trader

I cant see Harps being in the top divison even though i would love to see it and hope i am wrong i think it will be the 11 that is there now plus Shams.

I agree.

This season killed us.

Our four year record is okay, our off-field structures are not bad, new stadium, big enough crowds when we're going well and I'm hoping that with a few decent signings that we can bounce straight back up next year.

All depends who will be in charge of us though.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 21/11/2006, 7:03 AM

Originally Posted by fbtn

I agree.

This season killed us.

Our four year record is okay, our off-field structures are not bad, new stadium, big enough crowds when we're going well and I'm hoping that with a few decent signings that we can bounce straight back up next year.

All depends who will be in charge of us though.

The fall off in your home support this season, as shown in the attendance thread, is alarming though. People do not seem to be able to equate, not attending games at Finn Park in droves with, the financial problems experienced earlier in the season.

**Mental Man** · 21/11/2006, 7:24 AM

The present 11 teams in the premiere will stay as they are for next season but they will be joined by Shamrock Rovers, thats my own info .

**Conor H** · 21/11/2006, 7:30 AM

Originally Posted by Mental Man

The present 11 teams in the premiere will stay as they are for next season but they will be joined by Shamrock Rovers, thats my own info .

Hense all Genesis's and the IAG's work will be irrelevant.I can't help think that the FAI will have one twist in it.
It's also funny how waterford are the only club who know what's going to happen.

**Drogman.** · 21/11/2006, 10:26 AM

I'm not sure if this has happened elsewhere in the country but in the Drogheda Independant last week there was a job ad from the FAI for a Club Prmotions officer for Drogheda United.

The ad stated that the person will be involved in promoting Drogheda in the new Premiership next season with E180,000 budget.

Now my reading of the ad is that we are in this new top division next season so I'm wondering if similar ad's have been placed in other local papers?

**Dodge** · 21/11/2006, 10:32 AM

Its €180,000 split between 10 clubs. Clubs can add to it to make a decent salary because they'll get nopbody qualified willing to work for €18k

**harps1954** · 21/11/2006, 10:35 AM

Same ad was in the Donegal Democrat in relation to Harps last weekend. These ads were placed in the papers by the FAI and there will be funding of €15,000 per Premier Division club from the FAI for this post for next season. It is compulsory for each Premier Division club to have a Club Promotion Officer in place, but not compulsory for the First Division clubs. The €15,000 grant is only available to the Premier clubs.

I think the same ad as appeared in a lot more local papers in relation to the clubs in these areas. I'd imagine the Sligo Champion would have had one in relation to Sligo Rovers, etc.

**passerrby** · 21/11/2006, 10:36 AM

let me tell you why, genisis was established to find the biggest and most progressive clubs and put them into a super league (I think the plan is badly flawed anyway) but with all the wishful thinking in the world you are neither, you may have ambitious plans but so does everybody else ,at present you have no seating capacity in your ground at present so where do you intend hosting your games until this new stadium is completed, your on chairman has stated that gates are very poor and summer football is slowly killing the club s

**charliesboots** · 21/11/2006, 10:43 AM

This is the Prem I'd like to see, won't happen though:

Pats
Bohs
Rovers
Shels
Drogheda
Derry
Cork
Waterford
Galway
Harps
Sligo
Longford

Leaving First Division of:
Bray
UCD
Monaghan
Athlone
Limerick
Dundalk
Cobh
Kildare
Kilkenny
AN Other

**Mr A** · 21/11/2006, 10:51 AM

Hense all Genesis's and the IAG's work will be irrelevant.I can't help think that the FAI will have one twist in it.

I think a lot of people felt that Genisis's contribution wasn't up to much quite soon after their report. It simply wasn't very good. Much of what it said was completely obvious and it certainly was not worth whatever was spent on it. Depressingly one of the best ideas- that of dual registration- has been ignored by the FAI.

However, while the IAG stuff may turn out to be irrelevant (especially as the FAI may choose to ignore it and cherry pick the teams regardless of what they recommend), I do think there are benefits. If it gets clubs thinking more strategically and thinking about planning and marketing then that has to be a good thing.

genisis was established to find the biggest and most progressive clubs and put them into a super league (I think the plan is badly flawed anyway)

I thought the idea was to improve the league overall, not simply to set up a super league?

**Duffman** · 21/11/2006, 12:56 PM

Whatever about Dundalk not making it, our recent footballing record will prevent that it is massively unfair on UCD if they have to drop a division. I understand the whole process and the points allocation but they at least had a go this year. I can't believe a club the size and history of Waterford only get a final point score of 12. Were they not trying or had they written the season off halfd way through?

**Poor Student** · 21/11/2006, 1:25 PM

There's actually a general ad on the FAI's website regarding the Clubs Promotion Officer role:

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=1383

Date for application closes on Friday.

**fbtn** · 21/11/2006, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

The fall off in your home support this season, as shown in the attendance thread, is alarming though. People do not seem to be able to equate, not attending games at Finn Park in droves with, the financial problems experienced earlier in the season.

I agree, it is very alarming but I don't understand your last sentence.

**passerrby** · 21/11/2006, 4:54 PM

if only that were true do you see any monies made available to promote the first div ,league fees have been raised to €8000 which goes to premier div prize money, no TV money for botten seven teams how exactly do you think this will benifit the whole of the league