Official Premiership Thread

**bohs til i die** · 12/12/2006, 9:56 AM

Just a point to all those Derry fans saying "the clubs signed up to this process" [apologies if this point is already made but I havent seen it].

What other option did clubs have but to sign up for this? Its not as if they had an alternative.

**Trainee** · 12/12/2006, 10:07 AM

I dont know is how people think this process turned out to be a farce

the only way this whole process could have turned into a farce if UCD didnt get 1 of the 12 places

Galway Utd got high marks in off the field as the took the whole process serious from day 1 and lots of hard work from the board

looks to me waterford assumed they were safe and didnt take the process serious and thats why they lost out

As for Dundalk how they thought they should is beyound me, they should be focusing on next season 50K on offer for first divison rather than going on a pointless rant
why no backup plan if they didnt get promoted

**Kingdom** · 12/12/2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

The move to the Bowl certainly helps, also administratively and financially I would say UCD are very well run. This would compensate for getting hammered on the marketability side.

This is what I cannot understand. They are the biggest college in the country, in an area where there is little or no soccer, they have bucketloads of marketability. The fact that games are on a Fri night would probably be a big hit as some support would be from the country, would playing games on a Thurs night at home help? Wrong thread I know sorry!

**OneRedArmy** · 12/12/2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by bohs til i die

Just a point to all those Derry fans saying "the clubs signed up to this process" [apologies if this point is already made but I havent seen it].

What other option did clubs have but to sign up for this? Its not as if they had an alternative.

How about not signing up to it as an option?

People on here have a tendency to refer to the EL (now dead) as some kind of omipotent amorphous body when in fact it was the clubs own representative body.

The clubs could have come up with their own rival plan and rejected the FAI takeover, but unsurprisingly the self-interest and inability to manage the proverbial ****-up in a brewery that has characterised Irish club football administration prevailed and they FAI were the only show in town.

**bohs til i die** · 12/12/2006, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

How about not signing up to it as an option?

People on here have a tendency to refer to the EL (now dead) as some kind of omipotent amorphous body when in fact it was the clubs own representative body.

The clubs could have come up with their own rival plan and rejected the FAI takeover, but unsurprisingly the self-interest and inability to manage the proverbial ****-up in a brewery that has characterised Irish club football administration prevailed and they FAI were the only show in town.

The 11 teams in the premier all signed up to it, as would Shamrock Rovers and Galway United. If Dundalk want to stay in senior football then they HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SIGN UP.

**Frankfurt Hoop** · 12/12/2006, 10:35 AM

Also none of this bodes well for the All New Singing And Dancing, wait for it, "Eircom League of Ireland".

In a normal year Waterford would have gone down anyway. So we had a season long consultation process to decide that Dundalk couldn't beat Galway in a beauty contest (though they were already behind on the four year criteria).

Now the points awarded are dribbling out, about half of them are in the public domain although Delaney was treating them like a North Korean state secret yesterday.

The new league is a shambles and a PR disaster months before a ball has been kicked.

**marley** · 12/12/2006, 10:35 AM

Remember also that clubs signed up to the previous 5 seasons but as usual the FAI fu*ked that up . They decided to move the goalposts which effectively cost us our place. If we had gone on the original criteria Dundalk would have got points for finishing 10th in the Premier when there were 12 teams and also we won the FAI cup that year.
So you tell me ONEREDARMY what did we sign up to the old critiera or the new criteria

**OneRedArmy** · 12/12/2006, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by bohs til i die

The 11 teams in the premier all signed up to it, as would Shamrock Rovers and Galway United. If Dundalk want to stay in senior football then they HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SIGN UP.

Thats democracy for you!

**GalwayFrancis** · 12/12/2006, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

They are the biggest college in the country, in an area where there is little or no soccer, they have bucketloads of marketability.

the only thing is though, that from what i know of the area, its a rugby part of town and the locals would perfer to go watching egg-chasers than watch some college students play soccer.
hope the belfield bowl comes into reality, cause ucd have potential

**tiktok** · 12/12/2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

This is what I cannot understand. They are the biggest college in the country, in an area where there is little or no soccer, they have bucketloads of marketability.

I disagree. The problem they have is that anyone who is remotely interested in the League of Ireland will most likely have formed an affinity to another club by the time they reach college age, and those that don't have interest in the LoI will not be easily won over by Belfield (no offence UCD fans).

**NY Hoop** · 12/12/2006, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Interesting to note that despite all the pontificating from Rovers fans that Dundalk were a mess, that Dundalk actually scored higher in off the field points than Rovers did. Its only their playing record over the past 4 years that cost them.

I'm sure that'll console them.

They only finished 2 points ahead of us on off field points which is embarrassing really when you consider our history before the fans took over to run the club professionally. Before that we had a failed license, almost went bust and we still have no home ground.

Fair play to the Dundalk fans here who are taking it on the chin knowing full well they had no chance but I have no sympathy for the whinging coming out of Oriel. Can they not add?

Also mcgonigle you obviously missed the absolute shambles when we played up there twice this season.

Pathetic that the usual limerick WUM is slagging off Galway

Obviously this should have been decided on the pitch but as has been mentioned ad nauseum the clubs signed up for it.

The results, of course, should be made public. Incredibly Delaney said that clubs can seek out the results and then issue them publically so what's the difference?

What is the story with the name of the league? It appears the National part of it is gone.

Good to be back in the premier.

KOH

**Dodge** · 12/12/2006, 11:20 AM

But previous license problems had no bearing on this years application so your previous problems had nothing to do with your score.

Did clubs get a full breakdown or totals only?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 12/12/2006, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Terry

So, if these are correct, so far GUFC lead the way for off the feild with UCD coming a close 2nd ? Even there supporters must be shocked at this??

To be honest I'm surprised that we got second, not surprised by our score though.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

No. We always knew we were one of the best run clubs in the country.

Our score points out that we are the best run club in the country as attendences formed part of the scores.

Originally Posted by Dodge

But previous license problems had no bearing on this years application so your previous problems had nothing to do with your score.

Licensing was part of the criteria so Rovers would have lost points (or not gained points) for that.

**pete** · 12/12/2006, 11:48 AM

On the Field
1. Shels 493
2. Cork City 460
2. Derry City 460
4. Drogs 437
5. Longford 430
6. Bohs 420
7. St Pats 410
8. Rovers 380
9. UCD 370
10.Sligo 340
11. Waterford 337
12. Bray 333
13. Galway 260
14. Dundalk 247

Off the Field
Galway 389
UCD 374
Bohs 371
Derry City 370
Sligo 360
Bray 351
Dundalk 348
Rovers 346
Drogs 300
Waterford 295
Shels 278
Cork City N/A
Longford N/A
St Pats N/A

**chippie0001** · 12/12/2006, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

They only finished 2 points ahead of us on off field points which is embarrassing really when you consider our history before the fans took over to run the club professionally. Before that we had a failed license, almost went bust and we still have no home ground.

Fair play to the Dundalk fans here who are taking it on the chin knowing full well they had no chance but I have no sympathy for the whinging coming out of Oriel. Can they not add?

Also mcgonigle you obviously missed the absolute shambles when we played up there twice this season.

Pathetic that the usual limerick WUM is slagging off Galway

Obviously this should have been decided on the pitch but as has been mentioned ad nauseum the clubs signed up for it.

The results, of course, should be made public. Incredibly Delaney said that clubs can seek out the results and then issue them publically so what's the difference?

What is the story with the name of the league? It appears the National part of it is gone.

Good to be back in the premier.

KOH

Further irony Dodge, is that a lot of the points Rovers got for on the field, were achieved under the former regime,spending grant money on the first team. No punishment for this either in the rules, while clubs like Dundalk got less points while playing by the rules. Hardly fair now is it.

**chippie0001** · 12/12/2006, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by pete

On the Field
1. Shels 493
2. Cork City 460
2. Derry City 460
4. Drogs 437
5. Longford 430
6. Bohs 420
7. St Pats 410
8. Rovers 380
9. UCD 370
10.Sligo 340
11. Waterford 337
12. Bray 333
13. Galway 260
14. Dundalk 247

Off the Field
Galway 389
UCD 374
Bohs 371
Derry City 370
Sligo 360
Bray 351
Dundalk 348
Rovers 346
Drogs 300
Waterford 295
Shels 278
Cork City N/A
Longford N/A
St Pats N/A

We are the third best club off the pitch. Scary

**Schumi** · 12/12/2006, 12:15 PM

Do we get into the UEFA Marketability Cup now?

**superfrank** · 12/12/2006, 12:24 PM

Completely disgraceful decision. Dundalk earned the right to be in the Premier. They won the play-off. They were awarded a licence but due to some bull**** they'renot allowed in. This is the state of Irish football moment and it's a total joke. I wholeheartedly agree with what John Gill said on elevenaside.com.

Disgraceful. The FAI have hit a new low.

**NY Hoop** · 12/12/2006, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Interesting to note that despite all the pontificating from Rovers fans that Dundalk were a mess, that Dundalk actually scored higher in off the field points than Rovers did. Its only their playing record over the past 4 years that cost them.

I'm sure that'll console them.

Originally Posted by chippie0001

Further irony Dodge, is that a lot of the points Rovers got for on the field, were achieved under the former regime,spending grant money on the first team. No punishment for this either in the rules, while clubs like Dundalk got less points while playing by the rules. Hardly fair now is it.

How many wind up orders were issued this season to clubs? Those clubs will be in the premier. You're deluded if you think clubs are spending money they dont have on players wages.

KOH

**chippie0001** · 12/12/2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

How many wind up orders were issued this season to clubs? Those clubs will be in the premier. You're deluded if you think clubs are spending money they dont have on players wages.

KOH

I know full well clubs are spending money on players they don't have, including my own club before we sold Dalymount. However clubs like Cork/Shels ourselves have to pay those bills, you had them wrote off, legally I know. Other clubs cut back ala Galway/Athlone etc and they earned less on the field points as a result and had no debts written off. Thats hardly fair now is it?