Clubs must see the need for radical action

THE National League's format for the outset of the 21st century, and with it the future direction of the domestic game (in the hope that there still is one) will effectively be decided on Saturday week. All 22 League clubs will reconvene on October 12th to consider the nine options put forward at a recent meeting of the clubs, with a view to agreeing on one of them.

The clubs will consider the various options before individually deciding on their preferred two in advance of the meeting on October 12th. Only one option will if all goes to plan, be put forward for ratification at the League's a.g.m. next summer and the agreed format would be implemented in the 1998-99 season.

The options are:

1: Premier Division: 16 teams (two rounds of matches. 30 games per team). First Division: 12 teams. Total: 28 teams. Six new teams admitted.

2: Premier Division: 18 teams (two rounds of matches, 34 games). No First Division. Total: 18 teams. Four teams revert to divisional leagues.

3: Premier Division: 16 teams (two rounds of matches, 30 games). No first division. Total: 16 teams. Six teams revert to divisional leagues.

4: Premier Division: 16 teams (two rounds of matches, 30 games). First Division: 10 teams. Total: 26 teams. Four new teams admitted.

5: Premier Division: 14 teams (two rounds of matches, 26 games). First Division: 14 teams. Total: 28 teams. Six new teams admitted.

6: Premier Division: 14 teams (two rounds of matches, 26 games). First Division: 12 teams. Total: 26 teams. Four new teams admitted.

7: Premier Division: 12 teams. First Division: 12 teams. Total: 24 teams. Two new teams admitted. Under this proposal, each division would play two rounds, totalling 22 games each.

The top six in the Premier Division would play two further rounds of 10 games. The bottom six in the Premier and the top six in the First Division would play one round of 11 games, the winner receiving prize money and a trophy associated with the present First Division. The top five in this section would qualify for the following year's Premier Division. The sixth placed team would play off for promotion with the winners of the First Division's original bottom six, who would have played two rounds of 10 games.

8: Premier Division: 10 teams (four rounds of matches, 36 games). First Division: 12 clubs (minimum).

9: The existing format for two years. A phased reduction in the Premier Division (based on three-up, two-down) to 10 teams by the 1999-2000 season (which would have four rounds, 36 games) with 12 in the First Division. There would follow a five-year "building block" plan, incorporating a 16-club Premier Division by 2001-2002, based on results over the previous two seasons, minimum Premier League facilities and additional criteria. This would culminate in a 32-club National League of 16 clubs in each division by the season 2003-2004.

As can be readily seen, most of the proposals argue for an expanded Premier Division. In some cases (options 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7), this would also entail an expansion of the National League by two, four or six clubs.

Bearing in mind the difficulties the National League bosses had in persuading prospective members to join the First Division this season after the demise of St James's Gate, it's difficult to see how this could be achieved, especially if it is to even retain existing spectator and playing facilities, never mind improve them.

Options two and three would, in essence, mean a reversal to the old formula prior to the introduction of a two-division structure in '85-86. Option two would also seem to mean scrapping promotion and relegation, thereby ensuring the weak and unambitious clubs could survive without fear of demotion. Once more the tail would be wagging the dog. That might still happen to some degree unless either option eight or nine is adopted.

Clearly the most thought has been put into options seven and nine. The former, believed to be the brainchild of Waterford, is a variant on the top-six/bottom-six formula of four and three seasons ago. It has its merits. It would give every team something to play for, even the First Division's bottom six would have the carrot of promotion to the Premier Division.

However it would also revive many of the drawbacks of the top-six/bottom-six system. It would make the final third of the season too elitist and repetitive, while effectively relegating half the Premier Division two-thirds of the way into the season.

The only options which have never been tried before are options eight and nine, which feature a 10-team Premier Division. For too long the weak have held back the league, feeding off the more progressive and successful clubs. Expanded Premier Divisions have had ample opportunity in the past.

Everywhere else in the world. the top flight is being reduced so as to set higher standards. If it is true that a league is only as good as its weakest team then the Premier Division has to be reduced in the short-term, with a view to being expanded in the longer term.

The only option which addresses this, and the equally imperative considerations of improved marketing and lucrative television coverage, is option nine, that of St Patrick's Athletic. It also establishes the principle of access to the Premier Division being partly based on facilities - which is long overdue.

Yet it still affords every National League club fully four seasons (almost five years from this point) in which to bring their facilities up to scratch. Ultimately, it also promises an expanded Premier Division and an expanded League, which would have a wider geographical spread than currently exists.

Something radical has to be done. The tail cannot go on wagging the dog for ever.