It brings the league to different parts of the country that haven’t been hit before - Stephen Henderson

Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson strongly believes that the introduction of a third tier to League Of Ireland football is the way to go in terms of progressing football in this country.

The reports emerged last week that the FAI are mulling over the possibility of bringing in a third level of football into the domestic Irish footballing structure.

One of the main aims of such a move would be to bridge the gap between underage and first team League of Ireland football.

Speaking this week, Ramblers boss Henderson feels such a move makes perfect sense and it would be in the best interests of football for all in the country.

“I think there has to be a pyramid system here in Ireland. If you look at it, is there enough players to play League of Ireland football, absolutely 100%.

“Not only does it increase the league, it brings the league to different parts of the country that haven’t been hit before.

“We could have Munster Senior League teams in it, we could have Kerry teams in it. The geographical spread of the league could be all over the country.

“We are finding more players all over the country. We are identifying top new coaches all over the country. The League of Ireland becomes exactly that, a League Of Ireland.”

Henderson added: “What you have to understand is that coaching education in Ireland is one of the best in Europe.

“At the moment we are churning out top class coaches in Ireland, but we have nowhere for them to go.

“It is our job to facilitate them and at the moment, our best coaches are going to have to leave the country.

“If you are going to add a new tier to this, you cannot put too stringent demands, especially financially, on them because you will just frighten them away.

“There has to be a process of forming the league and then there has to be a financial process gradually coming into it as the clubs grow.

“Through that, what I will think will happen is you will have people from the Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht councils actively becoming involved in the running of League of Ireland football.

“If we can get people from the League of Ireland and the likes of the Munster and Leinster Senior Leagues working together, finally we will start to get a country working together for the one goal – for the betterment of football in this country.

“That can only be a good thing.  We have to look at football in this country as a whole, and facilitate the quality that we have both in players and in coaches.”