Reds boss against two-tier system

Louth boss not in favour of proposals before Special Congress this weekend

LOUTH MANAGER Wayne Kierans is one of those managers working directly in the coal face of the two-tier championship debate.

A Special Congress takes place in Cork this Saturday and top of the bill are two motions that could see Louth out of the race for the Sam Maguire before a ball is even kicked next season.

With Louth idling in Division 3, under the two motions proposed, his side would be entered into the as yet unnamed Tier 2 Championship along with the remaining teams currently in Division 3 and 4.

Only teams from Division 1 and 2 will have the chance to compete for the All-Ireland title outright.

There is another chance to join the All-Ireland race, but in Louth’s case it’s a slim one. Provincial finalists will also be admitted to the race for Sam but having only reached one Leinster decider in the last 59 years, it doesn’t bode well for the Reds.

‘I wouldn’t be too enamoured with the Tier 2 proposal,’ Kierans stated. ‘I just don’t think that in the form that it’s proposed it would work to be honest. I think the only way to restructure it, is to go with seeded groups and abandon the provincial system and that is never going to happen.

‘That’s the general consensus amongst the management team anyway, and some of the players.’

Has the county board, who has four votes on Saturday, like every other county, consult with the current management and sought their views?

‘There would have been yeah,’ Kierans revealed. ‘They were on to me, I’m sure there will be another consultation. In fairness there was a little bit of an informal chat already. I’m sure we’ll know what way we are going ahead of Saturday.’

With their views made known to the county board Kierans is sceptical of the Tier 2 proposal from a development standpoint. He’s also suspicious of the motives behind splitting the current championship format.

‘I just don’t see the value in it at all,’ Kierans added. ‘It’s unfair and I don’t think it is the right way to bring the so-called lesser counties up. The bigger picture. I’ll go back to it again, for me, it is a group system with Division 1, 2, 3 and 4 teams all in the one group and then you have the best of both worlds, competitive games and games to allow you to evelop.’

‘I don’t really agree with the way it is proposed at the minute. There is only one team you have absolutely no hope against (Dublin) and albeit there are other teams where you will be really up against it and struggle, but nobody gives an annihilation like the Dubs do! That’s my point.’

The second of five motions to be voted on this Saturday addresses which league season the split relates to - the current championship season or the following year’s.

‘Having not been in favour of the first one I haven’t really thought about it [the timing],’ Kierans explains before providing some insight on the possible implications.

‘You would be better in the same year, then you’d know you have momentum enough if you do get promoted you know you are in a good situation to compete at the higher level. For arguments sake there could be a change of a management this year and the following year the new manager might be going into the new higher level or vice versa going down the way.’

Overall Kiersans isn’t happy with the proposals, but if Louth do end up there how seriously would take it?

I think the only way to restructure it, is to go with seeded groups and abandon the provincial system and that is never going to happen

‘I wouldn’t be happy with either motions,’ Kierans says. ‘There is a lot of talk about how they market it and where will they play the games, and what would you get [for winning], but for the lesser teams that never happened anyway. There is no focus given to division 3 or 4 as it stands.

‘The only thing I would hold would be that you earned the right to go up a level. In terms of the actual competition well, it smacks of the Tommy Murphy Cup doesn’t it? I would suggest that the carrot is similar to if you win the Europa League you go into the Champions league. Regardless of your league positions and stuff I think that would be good.

‘If you were in it you’d be trying to win it, simple as that, but best avoided,’ Kierans concluded.