Crunch time for United plans
DROGHEDA United-led proposals that would see the League of Ireland’s top tier expanded to 12 teams - perhaps for only one season - are facing opposition from Premier clubs.
Talks were continuing as we went to press on Monday afternoon, with clubs desperately trying to find a consensus which would allow the season to resume on Friday July 31st, but with so many different possible formats on the table it could be that the FAI will have to step in and make a decision themselves before the end of this week.
However, that scenario is seen as a last resort as it could pave the way for legal challenges from clubs who aren’t happy with the final outcome.
Drogheda’s plan would see the First Division champions promoted and the next two finishers play off against the two lowest-ranked Premier sides in a process that would see just one of those four teams lose out.
That proposal is believed to have some support from Premier clubs, but most are thought to have already backed a format that would see the First Division champions promoted and the bottom club in the top flight relegated, with play-offs taken out of the equation entirely.
That’s a prospect that doesn’t sit well with First Division teams and Drogheda chairman Conor Hoey feels it’s a non-runner.
Explaining the situation, he said: ‘I easily spent 20 to 30 hours last week on the phone trying to negotiate ways through this because there’s a number of options on the table.
‘We have been driving one particular option which has a bit of traction, but I’m relaxed about any option as long as it’s not one up and one down.
‘The clubs in the lower half of the Premier Division table are very concerned about two relegation spots, and I get that, but we won’t always have two teams going up. In fact we have a meeting of one of the working groups this Thursday which is talking about the structure of the league for the next few years and that’s a way more important meeting.
‘I don’t understand why our proposal doesn’t have wider support because it’s giving Premier clubs more chances to get out of jail than the ones they are proposing themselves.
‘In the First Division we were meant to have teams finishing third, fourth and fifth in the league involved in play-offs, and the solution Premier clubs are talking about would mean there’s no playoffs in the First Division.
‘If the decision is one up and one down that could cause a major issue. Nobody wants legal challenges, but I could see there being a lot of difficult repercussions.
‘The solution we came up with is the best for fans and the best for players because there’s more to play for.’
Manager Tim Clancy is due to restart training tomorrow (Wednesday) ahead of that anticipated July 31st return, with sessions taking place at United Park so that there is no cost for renting pitches.
Drogheda are also on the lookout for other venues around the town to allow their underage teams to resume training and anyone who can help out is asked to contact the club.
The chairman said cost savings would have to be made as the uncertainty over a number of income streams - for example Fifa and FAI contributions, gate receipts and sponsorship money from organisations affected by Covid-19 - remains. However, the club still planned to honour their pledge to offer free admission to a match for all fans as soon as the restrictions on large crowds are lifted.