the only clubs that we would even want from the north would be linfield, glentoran, and portadown... its up to them to breakaway in the interests of improving their attendences and standards...
anyone with the interests in sports wanst an all-ireland league, it must be one of the only sports left without being runn on an all-ireland basis,Originally Posted by harry crumb
its boyce thats thats afraid of losing influence over the IL
the only clubs that we would even want from the north would be linfield, glentoran, and portadown... its up to them to breakaway in the interests of improving their attendences and standards...
We're a long way away from the majority of IL clubs or their fans being OK with an AIL, and I suspect a fair few eL clubs would oppose it too.
Expanding the Setanta cup to include more teams would be excellent, but talk of amalgamating the leagues is very premature indeed.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Just like any other country money is the ony way to drive forward. Compare the prize money & tv exposure of the eL & IL & absolutely no competition. However would need to remove a lot of teams from senior football as too many & will be small clubs on both sides of the border that will resist.
advantages of an All -Ireland League a) easier and more viable to have professional teams in such a set up b) more attractive fixtures
c) if it leads to an All-Ireland international team, it increases the chances of some team from this island being at the final stages of major tournaments with a larger playing pool to choose from ...oh and can Lawrie Sanchez be the manager ?
Mr Boyce's comments on the matter.
"All politicians, especially those from the south, should keep out of any football affairs in Northern Ireland. This is not the first time Mr Ahern has made comments that have upset people in Northern Ireland. We have excellent relations at football level with the Football Association of Ireland and both sides are perfectly happy with the situation as it now stands. As far as Northern Ireland football is concerned, we will continue to play as Northern Ireland long into the distant future. I'm not prepared to enter into any discussions on the matter"
Embarrassed FAI officials apologised to Mr Boyce at the dinner for Ahern's comments.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I'd agree that it should happen, but I'm appalled that Ahern didn't use his speech to be more positive about the game here, maybe citing the player exodus as proof that the league should be treated with more credibillity by the media and sporting public.
Also the BBC report stated this ''Rugby is the most high-profile sport to be organised on a north-south basis, and up to 30 sporting bodies operate in this way'' higher profile than Gaelic Football ???
Here's a novel/crazy idea for a combined league; merge the two leagues then have two league tables, one for prize money/trophies/medals/relegation counting all results, the other for European qualification counting only results between teams from the same association.
EL grounds are like good episodes of The Simpsons, no matter how many times you see them they're still funny
That's a great idea
Very true, but at this stage it's a case of "Any publicity..."
I am in favour of an AIL should the conditions for it be right but certainly not of a joint national team. However I feel that Ahern with this poorly judged speech has set the possibility of this back years. An AIL and an all Ireland team are two completely separate issues and should be dealt with as such. All Ahern has done is make people both sides of the border defensive at the fear of losing their national team and therefore wary of an AIL.
Brilliant idea Mr T. I pity the foo' who argues with that.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
So does the Munster FA, but they don't compete internationally. There would be no reason why technical specifics required to satisfy UEFA/FIFA couldn't be worked around - i.e. still having separate cups etc.
You could have an entirely new league run by a new body (similar to premier in UK) organised on an all-island basis. The respective national leagues (cut to a single division each) could act as the lower divisions and there could perhaps be play-offs to determine relegation and promotion. There might be issues about ending up with odd numbers in leagues, but if the will to do it was present, then it would just be a matter of ironing out the details.
There are a million and one different formats that could be used, but I think a combined league is necessary for the long-term future.
Foot.ie's entire existence is predicated on the average idiot's inability to ignore other idiots
Much to Cork's dismay
don't know about this idea. but a seperate AIL premier division of 18 or so teams with an AIL 1st division with 18 teams also. then beneath that you could have the Connacht/Munster/Leinster/Ulster Senior Leagues, and a play-off system between them to decide who goes up to 1st division (but they would have to meet certain criteria first).
the make up of the premier division could be decided by the top 9 from each of the respective leagues.
agreed.
in addittion Boyce destroyed any hope of this coming to fruition with some classic leadership on the issue - I'd love if he replaced delaney down here. This is what you want from a CEO - clear, unequivocal no bs say what you mean and mean what you say comments!
Classic stuff from Boyce. I'd be a fan.
the Setanta cup suffices for me and fullfills all my cross border "urges"
a combined league would just be flogging the idea to within an inch of its life
I think ahearn was been mischeivious as a return swipe over the dundalk debancle but has done more to kill whatever chances of this happening off.
I wish i did not know then what I dont know now
Is this a runner?
The AIL is the only way we will achieve a fully professional League on the island of Ireland.... so of course I am in favour of it.
An eventual All-Ireland representative international team, might well see, the chances of this rain sodden oul sod's chances increase of participating in major tournaments .
Northern Ireland reached 1958, 1982 and 1986 World Cups no Euro Championship final appearances.
This was in spite of defeating (West) Germany home and away in the 1984 European Championship Qualification Group.
Republic of Ireland reached 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups and a solitary Euro 1988 Final appearance.
I think that with the entire island's population to choose from and the children of immigrants it would be easier to get a successful squad together.
Last edited by CollegeTillIDie; 22/01/2007 at 9:26 PM.
I think its a good idea and one that should happen but it wont as there are two very highly paid boards of control in both orginisations and neither want to yield. Its jobs for the boys really and if it were Minister O'Cuiv he would be asking for a seperate football body fully funded by your taxes for irish speaking soccer players. Both governments should pull funding till they come together. Sack both Boyce and Delaney to get it going
So who would be in this league?
If a 20 team league was introduced, would the split be 10 North / 10 Republic? Population would suggest a 30% / 70% split but that would never fly. Would 40% / 60% work? And would Derry City count as a Northern team or a Republic team? Would seem logical that they count as one from the North.
It doesn't really matter, the good teams would rise to the top after a couple of seasons anyway. If you're concerned about it, you could have 5 from the FAI, 5 from IFA, 5 from a play-off series of the marginal team, and of course Derry City to bring it up to a nice even 16! (This also nicely bypasses your question over whether the Candystripes should be considered northern or southern!)
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