FAI to release fixtures today

THE 2017 SSE Airtricity Premier Division is only over a mere two months, but the 2018 season is nearly upon us with the fixtures being announce today (Tuesday) at noon.

WITH 36 league games in the Premier Division season, next season will start on Friday, February 16th whilst the First Division season with 27 league games will kick-off a week later on Friday, February 23rd.

The mid-season break will take place from Saturday, June 16th to Thursday, June 28th and there are no midweek league fixtures scheduled in the First Division.

In the First Division, the 2nd/3rd/4th placed clubs will go into the promotion/relegation playoffs at the end of the season. The team which finishes fourth will play the team which finishes third and the winner of that tie will face the team which finishes second. The winner of that tie will then play the team which finishes ninth in the Premier Division in the final promotion/relegation play-off, with all play-offs played over two legs. The champions of the First Division will be guaranteed automatic promotion to the Premier Division where they will replace the team which finishes 10th in the top tier.