GET ROVER YOURSELVES!
Clubs remain in limbo as Hoops sit on the fence & Executive sets an ultimatum
A ‘make or break’ National League executive committee meeting has been called for this morning over the resumption of the sse Airtricity League.
The divide between Premier Division clubs and their First Division counterparts only widened during further talks yesterday, which were described as fractious at times.
With consensus seemingly a remote prospect at this stage, the National League Executive Committee has been mandated to try to come up with a solution.
The FAI had previously given the clubs until last Friday to work out their differences. Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s are the Premier Division representatives on the committee, along with Drogheda and Galway from the First Division.
Prior to yesterday’s meeting, nine of the 10 current top flight clubs had reached agreement on a proposal that one team would be relegated and the
First Division champions would be promoted.
However First Division clubs are still insistent that there should be a 12-team top tier next season.
Instead of one club being relegated, they want the champions to gain automatic promotion.
They also want the bottom two in the top tier to play in semi-final play-offs against the second and third placed First Division teams – with the winner of the play-off final earning the prize of Premier Division football next season.
The FAI themselves had put forward their own proposal of one up and one down, plus the ninth placed club in the top flight would be replaced by the First Division team that wins a series of play-offs between the teams that finish second to fifth.
But one Premier Division source close to the discussions claims that top flight clubs believe FAI interim CEO Gary Owens and interim deputy CEO Niall Quinn are “being played”.
Shamrock Rovers apart, the rest of the top tier clubs have already rejected that proposal.
The Hoops, with Shamrock Rovers II playing in the First Division, are the odd club out in terms of the top flight stance having not committed to any plan.
The Premier Clubs
Alliance later met by video conference last night, with numerous top flight clubs expressing their anger that the current impasse has been allowed to continue.
They believe their proposal should be prioritised by Owens and Quinn.
Meanwhile, Derry City are hopeful of retaining Ireland under-21 winger Stephen Mallon (left) until the end of the season.
Mallon is on loan from Sheffield United and the clubs are discussing the possibility of Mallon staying at the Brandywell.
Derry are also on the look-out for a new striker after Norwegian Tim Nilsen left the club by mutual consent.