Dozen dilemma

I remember being in a bar in Drumcondra several years ago and overhearing a passionate debate at the table next door about the structure of the League of Ireland. At the time the Premier Division had twelve members and the gentlemen involved, plainly club officials, were passionately demanding a reduction to ten teams. ‘It has to happen’, was the urgent message. I didn't understand why.

No details were offered, just this fierce conviction that things had to change, so I was left to guess what sins the 12 team league had committed to inspire such antipathy. But whatever their reasons, this informal council got their wish. The following season (2002/03) the top tier was reduced to ten, Dundalk, Galway and Monaghan being jettisoned to the First Division. Now, eight years later, we are heading back from whence we came and, once again, I’m not entirely sure why.

Not that I’m against it, there are a number of positives in having an extra two Premier Division teams, I just hope that the powers that be are clear, not just on what they are doing, but why they are doing it.

It is one of the more frustrating aspects of our domestic league that structural issues often get blamed for more deep lying problems. The result is that positive, if minor, change is too quickly reversed when impossible ambitions are not met. For instance, the issues around when our league games are played are often held up as a reason for poor attendances. If we played on Sunday afternoon, goes one argument, our crowds would improve. Nonsense. History tells us otherwise. There is no better time to play, just other times, none of which would address the core issues behind poor crowds at LoI games.

Changing kick off times to avoid a clash with one rival entertainment will simply put us in direct competition with another, be it the GAA, Sky Super Sunday, the Saturday shop or the Late Late Show. Thankfully the FAI have taken the most important step, which is to declare a ‘best option’ and stick with it, while still allowing some flexibility. As a result, Friday night is now LoI time and we have begun to form some kind of identity around that.

The truth is that for every soul lost due to ‘other commitments’ we gain (or retain) two who are happy to set that time aside as football time. We should not be lured into thinking that attendances would magically blossom with the introduction of other arrangements.

Similarly with the varying size of our divisions, we should understand before making changes that there is no army of previously apathetic citizens who are only waiting for a change to a twelve team top tier before marching triumphantly on the league’s turnstiles. Any changes made in this regard should be made for the sake of those already involved. And furthermore, we should have a clear idea of what we hope to achieve.

One advantage to a bigger Premier Division would be that, with each team likely taking on a 33 game fixture list, there would be three less league games to squeeze into a schedule that is currently bursting at the seams. Twelve teams would also go some way to addressing the repetitiveness of playing each team four times, a format that invites confirmation of the old maxim that familiarity breeds contempt.

One other advantage to increased membership of the top tier is that two extra clubs are brought into that more lucrative market. Two more teams will get MNS exposure and be able to sell Premier Division sponsorship packages.

One of the main arguments against such a move, that there is not enough quality in the First Division and that promoted teams would find themselves unable to compete, clearly no longer holds water. Derry City, promoted from the First and now flying high in the Premier, might be something of an anomaly. There is little doubt that they are set up to be a top division club. The same could be argued of Cork City. But Waterford United, Limerick FC, Monaghan United and Shelbourne have all shown enough over the past few seasons to suggest that they would also enhance the Premier Division.

All in all, there doesn’t seem to be much to say against the imminent change. But it is somewhat unsettling that the ground has not been openly declared by the FAI. By all accounts the clubs have been informed as to what will be happening but until there is public and explicit confirmation from the governing body we are all operating in something of a vacuum.

At least this means that one of the less positive rumours emanating from Abbottstown has not yet been confirmed. There are some whispers that next seasons top tier will employ a half way split. This is a format in which, at a given point, the league is divided in two. From that point on the top teams effectively play off against the other top teams and the bottom teams are cast off to play in their own, less charming playground.

It is the system currently employed in the Scottish Premier League and to most football fans it is highly unsatisfactory. Yes, it theoretically offers the big teams more big games, but plainly it also denies the same privilege to the remainder, leaving them with a final portion of the season that offers nothing but downward looking gloom.

We will have to wait to find out exactly what is going to happen but no matter which way this particular cookie crumbles we should bear two things in mind; any expectations of a panacea will lead to some disappointment and change for the sake of change has little to recommend it.