Club survey shows fans' true feelings on expansion

THE hub of the National League's decision making process is the management committee, to which all 22 clubs (allowing for absentees) send along their "representatives". In theory, these representatives should speak and vote on behalf of the club's administrators, managers, players and supporters alike.

But how often is this the case? How regularly are, say, the players and the fans sounded out for their views? Supporters, after all, are some of the most knowledgeable people in the game.

Hence, the findings of a survey amongst Shamrock Rovers supporters, which the club published in their impressive match programme for Sunday's game against Sligo Rovers, make for some interesting reading.

The decision to expand the Premier Division from its existing 12 clubs to 16 was opposed by 76 per cent of those surveyed, with 23 per cent in favour (and one per cent in the "don't know" category). Asked if the major clubs should consider forming a break away in light of the aforementioned proposal, 46 per cent were in favour, and 52 per cent against.

A majority of 69 per cent were in favour of a two month winter break, while 65 per cent were in favour of a change to a summer season. Finally, with regard to the merger between the National League and the FAI; 80 per cent felt it made no difference, 12 per cent believed it improved the league, and six per cent said it made the league worse.

Admittedly, the survey was only conducted among 100 Shamrock Rovers supporters, so it may not be entirely representative of all National League supporters, never mind all of Rovers' fans. Nevertheless, it signalled some strong opposition to the proposed new formula for the National League and highlighted progressive views toward the notion of summer football. At the very least, it should, perhaps, encourage other clubs and Merrion Square to ascertain how other supporters feel on these issues not to mention managers, coaches and players.

As someone who has played in the National League and now works full time in the National League, Shamrock Rovers commercial manager and team manager Pat Byrne concurs with the supporters' view that the expansion of the Premier Division to 16 clubs is a backward step.

"We should get our facilities right first," says Byrne, who believes the best way of doing this is to keep the Premier Division at 12 clubs.

"There's so much money going out on players at the moment, that I believe the only way to stem this pattern is to scrap relegation for a period of maybe four years. By the end of that time, if your facilities are not in place, you do not participate in the Premier Division."

Byrne would also like to see a significantly improved level of prize money, with a 70/30 split between the divisions being reversed after four years, so that the First Division clubs could then start to bring their facilities up to an equal level.

Some First Division clubs would argue that they couldn't survive if they were cast adrift for four years. "But who's surviving at the moment anyway?" he responds. "How many clubs are in debt at the moment? Clubs are breaking the bank trying to get promotion.

Aside from affording clubs the time and the opportunity to upgrade facilities, Byrne feels his proposal would also give clubs the chance to "introduce or improve their youth development without the fear of relegation".

An expanded Premier Division would further reduce the quality of football, Byrne believes. "I'm sure Dermot Keely and Pat Devlin would have different sides if there was no relegation. It would lead to more entertainment."

"None of this is being disrespectful to the likes of Kilkenny or Longford, because I've been in that position myself. It's just a fact of life. If the league was structured right, I think more investors would be willing to get involved.

Byrne also says that the league should bite the bullet and go with a March to October season. Ideally, he would like to see a 12 team Premier Division made up of the clubs with the best facilities and support base. He admits this is an unlikely development, but adds that if the tail continues to wag the dog and a 16 team Premier Division is foisted upon the majority of Premier Division clubs, who voted against the proposal, than a breakaway should be formed. This would contain the likes of the Dublin Big Four, Derry, Dundalk, Sligo, Finn Harps, Cork, Waterford, Galway and one other.

"That might sound terrible, but it might be the only way forward."