Portadown Out

[Blanchflower]

Again, you're forgetting facilities were effectively ignored for this year's DL. Where Bangor did DC over, was in the scoring matrix of the IFAP

It doesn't matter - both clubs were deemed good enough to get licences, but DC were better than Bangor on the pitch, therefore DC should get a place ahead of Bangor.

I'm not debating whether the league should be decided upon a ranking system.

Why not? That's what we're discussing!

I'm merely using the rules laid out and agree to by all clubs as a means for justifying Portadown's and DC's non-invitation.

But it's the "rules laid out" that are under discussion - they were ridiculous!

[Blanchflower]

I am by no means an expert on the DL/IFAP applications, but please do some research. I haven't the time nor inclination to repeat myself or explain the most elementary aspects of each process to you. Mr Paker may indluge you though.

Er, it was a rhetorical question.

Three sides who have been prevented from gaining access to an above league due to inadeqaute ground facilties.

See DC, Limavady, Loughgall, Armagh. All of whom have gained access to the IPL by the IFA's leniency and loosening criteria. We have had to endure Limavady Showgrounds for years, due to the IFA's lack of strength. Those criteria have been gerrymandered.

Gerrymandered by whom and for what purpose? It's up to all the IL clubs to determine the criteria, not individual clubs.

In future, all that will be required is DL and the finish in the top two. That should keep you happy.

Precisely my point! That is what should happen and demonstrates how illogical it is to operate such a sensible system in years 2,3, 4, 5, etc., but have a stupid double-counting ranking system plus ludicrous penalties for late applications in year 1 and year 1 only.

[Morrissey]

I'll be reaching for the bucket if we go around in any more circles.

Had the facilities been included in the DL this year, I'd agree with you.

As it is, I don't.

Succint enough?

[Morrissey]

Er, it was a rhetorical question.


Gerrymandered by whom and for what purpose? It's up to all the IL clubs to determine the criteria, not individual clubs.


Precisely my point! That is what should happen and demonstrates how illogical it is to operate such a sensible system in years 2,3, 4, 5, etc., but have a stupid double-counting ranking system plus ludicrous penalties for late applications in year 1 and year 1 only.

There'll still be deadlines for future DLs.

We all really know what the basis for the league was, whether you agree with it or not. One club just decided not to play ball, to their detriment.

[Blanchflower]

My posts are purely based on the criteria laid out, and the ability of clubs to adhere to them.

Then all your posts are irrelevant, because everyone knows the "criteria laid out" and the process in place. The discussion is about the process per se and how ridiculous it is!

I have no steadfast preference over a league using a ranking system or not. However, the deferring of the facilties crtieria has added another dimension, and IMO - since we're talking the present as you were quick to point out - the ranking system does have merits.

What merits?

[Morrissey]

What merits?

Perhaps the point I've bee trying to ram home to you.

A means of scoring clubs on their CURRENT facilties, since the DL failed to do so.

[Blanchflower]

I'll be reaching for the bucket if we go around in any more circles.

Had the facilities been included in the DL this year, I'd agree with you.

As it is, I don't.

Succint enough?

I think it's reasonable to give clubs time to upgrade their facilities. The league should facilitate clubs to improve, not put barriers in their way. The whole thing has been rushed.

That said, whatever the criteria for the DL this year - facilities or not - it should have been top 12 teams with a DL.

[Blanchflower]

Perhaps the point I've bee trying to ram home to you.

A means of scoring clubs on THEIR current facilties, since the DL failed to do so.

But facilities were only one part of the ranking system, so the much of the rest was double-counting.

And if facilities were not required for the DL then they should not have been required for the new league. If they were required for the league, then they should have been required for the DL.

The clubs obviously decided facilities weren't necessary for next year's league - therefore they shouldn't have formed part of any criteria.

[pineapple stu]

I never said it was ideal, but it's an improvement.

It's not an improvement in the slightest. The problem is that, next year, Bangor are going to get hammered and Portadown are going to walk the First Division, and the following year, we'll be back exactly where we should have been, and life will go on. Galway and Dundalk this year are showing how it'll be done.

What the morons in charge in the FAI and the IFA (and those who agree with their process) haven't realised is that football isn't played on scorecards of makey-uppey attributes; it's played on the pitch, and no matter how you mess about with things, the strongest clubs will always rise to the top again.

[waide]

As an Il supporter who attends matches most weeks i welcomed the idea of a more professional invitational league,portadown sadly were rightly punished for their horrendous balls up,but the thing that has really angered me is the inclusion of Bangor and institute ahead of D Celtic.When the list of successful applicants were announced i sat in disbelief at the inclusion of bangor who have nothing to offer to the new league,no fan base ,crap facilities,some will argue that d c are the same but at least there is potential there for vast improvement,something sadly that will never come tofruition now.

[AnnaghRed]

One step back, but two forwards.

Namely, McCutcheon and Smith.

Its a bit rich a Coleraine fan having a laugh at this considering your own clubs skullduggery, no?

I would suggest that the Ports have no other option but to accept the decision though i doubt we'll walk the PIL considering the players we'll likely lose.

I hope DC have the bottle and the grounds to drag the IFA into court, but I doubt it.

[pól-dcfc]

Its a bit rich a Coleraine fan having a laugh at this considering your own clubs skullduggery, no?

I would suggest that the Ports have no other option but to accept the decision though i doubt we'll walk the PIL considering the players we'll likely lose.

I hope DC have the bottle and the grounds to drag the IFA into court, but I doubt it.

It would destroy the game in the North if they did. No UEFA comps for national or club teams etc. The league would look a joke. They should take it lying down, and try and get up next year. I hope they do get promoted next season, because with a few years in the top flight they could become a big side in West Hellfast. Takes more than 2 seasons to win the barstoolers over.

[Blanchflower]

When the list of successful applicants were announced i sat in disbelief at the inclusion of bangor who have nothing to offer to the new league,no fan base ,crap facilities,some will argue that d c are the same but at least there is potential there for vast improvement,something sadly that will never come tofruition now.

Plus DC have proved on the pitch that they are a top 12 club.

[Morrissey]

Its a bit rich a Coleraine fan having a laugh at this considering your own clubs skullduggery, no?
.

Not really, no.

It's two steps forward, but one back. You're the fall guy. I have sympathy with the fans, but not for the club. Believe me, having been to the abyss, relegation is merely a blip.

And what grounds do DC for going to court? Oh, wait........

[Morrissey]

Also nice to see Sinn Fein getting involved in DC's exclusion.

I'm pretty confident that contravenes a FIFA statute.

Good work so far lads. We're laughing, and waving.

[Blanchflower]

I don't think the Provos have been great friends of DC in the past: intimidating them out of playing a fixture against the RUC and less than supportive of their efforts to build the club.

[Morrissey]

The system aside, the league will work itself out in a year or two. We will have the best clubs in the country in its top flight league.


Maybe slightly elongated route to get there, but progress.

[Schumi]

The system aside, the league will work itself out in a year or two. We will have the best clubs in the country in its top flight league.


Maybe slightly elongated route to get there, but progress.

How is it progress when that would have happened instantly by just applying promotion/relegation normally to clubs with a licence?

[Blanchflower]

How is it progress when that would have happened instantly by just applying promotion/relegation normally to clubs with a licence?

Exactly.

Why have a convoluted system for year 1 only? And then promotion/relegation for clubs with a licence for every year thereafter?

[Not Brazil]

I hope DC have the bottle and the grounds to drag the IFA into court, but I doubt it.

On what grounds, exactly?