THE FAI’S CONSULTATION report has recommended a smaller League of Ireland Premier Division.
The plan would see three-to-four clubs relegated and one promoted next season.
The report also indicated a need for the league to be re-branded, with more of a focus on PR and marketing.
The proposed plan would also include greater league prize money and increased TV markets.
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The full report can be read here.
– First published 22.17, 28 Sept
Doesn’t John Delaney pay himself more per year than the winner of the league?
More per month.
If he did it for free would you still not go. That’s a worn out point at this stage.. Let’s move on.
True it’s a worn out point but someone who views the league as a “problem child” sound not be the top guy.
What’s the chances they spent more on the report than they did on the league this year ?
What’s depressing is that you are probably correct in saying that.
The Clubs should really run the league similar to how the Premier League is run in England.
Ffs once again brain dead report – how on earth is reducing the league to ten going to make it better. For instance if Limerick and Galway are relegated (they occupy the two bottom places today) that’s two major cities without football. It’s a joke surely a 16 team league would be a better idea with teams like shelbourne and Waterford back. The standard at the top is decent as Dundalk proved against BATE this year – unfortunately the grounds aren’t and investment is needed here. But the FAI are up to their balls in debt paying for the Aviva which they can barely half full for some internationals. It’s cut backs to grass roots that’s the main reason our national team is dirt. Every major town or city should have a sporting venue to be proud of but our government or local authorities only give a toss if it’s in tallaght.
You’re not wrong in anything you say there. All the marketing and rebranding won’t do anything for Hunky Dorey Park. Investment needed in the infrastructure.
Should be aspiring to a 16 team premier and 12 team first div by expanding the market for the Premier and LOI in general.
Agree Paul. Also to say “increase tv coverage” as if it’s that easy. They were saying on the radio that clubs lose money when they’re shown on tv, I think it was shamrock rovers, who estimated they lose €10,000 when a match of theirs is televised and they want compensation from tv company. Problem is there’s no way RTE are going to fork out that much to televise each match. I doubt tv3 or tg4 could afford it.
To be fair Paul, if you read the report it says that the gap between the top of the prem and bottom of the 1st is enormous (which it is) and the league would become less competitive if everyone played in the same division. Btw, why do you want a prem with 16 teams, are you planning to send 4 teams out of business??
Currently the 2nd division is suffering a lot with only 8 teams, so 2 divisions of 10 each seems a better spread. if you paid close attention to Waterford recently you’d know they’re the worst team in the 1st div, they don’t deserve to be anywhere near the prem. I agree that Limerick and Galway should ideally be challenging the big teams, but if they can’t get their teams to be better than Bray, Longford or Drogheda then they don’t deserve it.
Regarding venues, Cork, Galway, Sligo, UCD, Athlone, Pats, Waterford, Rovers, Longford, Bray, Youths all have fine venues for the amount of fans they get.
Limerick and still renovating the markets field which looks well since it re-opened. Finn harps are in the process of building a lovely new all-seater stadium. DCC will renovate Dayler soon and hopefully Shels will groundshare. Derry have plans to build a nice new stand. There is already a plan in place for Drogs new ground.
Daniel I agree with what you say that teams should earn the right to play in a premier division – but that’s also an unfair comment regarding past history. Dundalk won a playoff the year the FAI took control only to be told they couldn’t play in the premier league due to their previous financial issues – shamrock rovers strolled in at the time even tough they didn’t have a ground.
I would not want to see any club go out of existence but I’ve seen years of first division football with Dundalk and it’s not a nice play to be. The FAI should be promoting more regional clubs to join the first division – the first division should be a grass roots towards the premier league.
I also agree several clubs have taken big steps at huge burden to increase their facilities but unfortunately this has meant they’ve struggle on the pitch – so support is needed.
The players will continue to be produced its up to the FAI and the clubs to get them on the best stage possible in Ireland. I’m a firm believer that if people come through the LOI gates they will be hooked and will contribute greatly to their local teams.
I think everyone agrees that what happened to Dundalk back then was a monumental Fcuk up.
I myself would love to see some more teams join the 1st division. Tralee Dynamos were the last club to apply in 2012 but their facilities were miles off the requirement apparently. Hopefully a few more clubs will apply soon. Accprding to the latest census figures we still have a few urban centres that could support a 1st Div team – Kilkenny, Naas/Newbridge, Fingal, Tralee. Most of those places already had teams, which ended up folding, but they might be worth fresh try.
I have been saying it for years. Marketing is non existent in the FAI or the LOI. if you want people to come to games and improve the league as a whole then a few marketing experts should be hired ASAP.
You’re right but the main proposal is to reduce the size of the potential market. As others have pointed out Limerick, Galway and Sligo could potentially be the bottom 3 this season.
What will happen to the relegated clubs when they go out of business then?
Market, market, market and market some more. Garner local pride in the local LOI club. Billboards on approach roads to major towns of stars such as Towell, Duff, Jake Keegan, Mark O’Sullivan, Akinada et al. Have them at at train and bus stations, make them Heros in kids eyes. Create a buzz. Pop up ads on social media used by the youth. Free tickets distributed in schools to u12 if accompanied by a paying adult. Family enclosures and half time kids ents. If you get someone to try the product once or twice it’s actually very enjoyable and worth going back for more. Create the support, interest and awareness and surely the rest will follow.
10 teams playing each other 4 times a season presumably and more than likely again in the two cups will be a disaster. Fans are already suffering from fixture fatigue against the same opposition.
As much as the FAI would like to decree who takes part in the Premier you’re going to still end up with Bray and UCD ultimately occupying 2 of the 10 spots with Wexford Youths or Longford joining the odd year. Your Limericks, Galways, etc. will suffer. Shamrock Rovers, St.Pats & Bohs are likely always to be in the top 10 so it’ll be a higher % Dublin orientated league and open to all that criticism. The irony being that Dublin is where the league is having the least impact.
Merge with the SPL??
More competitive first Division?
One division like they had in the old days would be the best option, with teams playing each other twice. Teams playing each other 3 times is just stupid.
If you read the report, one of the main findings is that the teams near the top of the prem (Dundalk, Cork, Pats, Bohs) are miles ahead of the clubs at the bottom of the 1st Divison (Cabinteely, Waterford) so merging the leagues would actually make the league a lot less competitive as a whole.
To be fair Daniel, Waterford in the Premier would be a much different animal to Waterford in the 1st div in terms of sponsorship and attendances no reason they couldn’t be competitive.
Different solutions are required to improve the 1st div rather than doing it at the expense of the premier.
By the way Donal, Cork City will have played both Pats and Derry 5 times each by the end of this season. Under these proposals and in similar cup circumstances that would be 6 fixtures – not too many fans would get excited at that type of prospect.