Premier
Division To Revert To 12 Teams
There
was no big surprise at the league's A.G.M on Saturday 13th March when
it was voted that there would be a change back to the old format of
a 12-team Premier and 10-team First Division.
Needing
a two-thirds majority vote if the ten team Premier was to be retained,
it was highly predictable that there would be changes. With only 8 teams
voting to keep the same structure, including Shelbourne, Bohemians and
Cork City - three teams will now be promoted, one relegated and there
will be no playoffs.
FAI
chief executive Fran Rooney insisted that the target is still to ensure
all aspects of the licensing scheme for next season, but it will depend
on how many clubs will gain 'A' licence's by this time next year.
All
clubs must meet the 'A' criteria if they are to participate in the Premier
so if only ten teams achieve this, then they will be the ten teams to play
Premiership football. In theory, it will be the top 12 placed teams in both
divisions that have the A licence but newly-elected League Chairman, Declan
O'Luanaigh, expressed confidence after Saturday's meeting, however, that
the necessary numbers would met the required standards well before the end
of the current campaign and that next year's premier division will be made
up entirely of teams that have earned their place there on the field of
play.