League play-offs scheduled
Credit:
The FAI have announced the details of the Airtricity League promotion/relegation play-offs. According to the press release, the third placed First Division club will face a two legged clash with the tenth placed Premier Division side. The first leg will take place on Tuesday 1st November with home advantage to the First Division club. The second leg will play three days later, on the 4th November.
This confirms the fact that the top two sides in the First Division will gain automatic promotion, resulting in a 12 team Premier Division next season. For the 2011 season, the Premier Division featured ten clubs. The First Division had been planned to contain 12 teams but with the withdrawal of Sporting Fingal from the league with no replacement selected, the division had to run with 11.
Should the play-off be level scores after the two legs, extratime and penalties will decide the game. As Shels currently are competing in the FAI Cup semi finals, should they finish third in the league and reach the FAI Cup final, the second leg game will be moved to the 9th November.
The match order and dates have been confirmed as follows by the NLEC (all matches to kick-off at 7.45 pm):
First Leg - Tuesday, 1st November:
Third placed First Division Club v Tenth placed Premier Division Club
Second Leg – Friday, 4th November:
Tenth placed Premier Division Club v Third placed First Division Club
