Officers to promote clubs

League of Ireland: The countdown to the start of the new FAI-run League of Ireland continued yesterday as club promotions officers from around the country were officially unveiled. The FAI has part funded a scheme under which 15 people will be employed to market the clubs and forge links with their communities.

The league's own promotions manager, Noel Mooney, said the creation of so many positions would play a key part in ensuring the coming season proves to be a turning point for the game here.

"It's going to be a revolution," he said. "As a young fella and a player I couldn't see why the clubs didn't do more to engage with their local communities. Now I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to oversee a change in that.

"At the moment the league is seen as something of a cult experience and our intention is to broaden its appeal and its support base dramatically.

"We're not promising people the English Premiership or Serie A, but we are giving a firm commitment that the game here will start to fulfil its potential and that more and more people will come away from games having had a very positive and enjoyable experience."

The new club officials, who will work with each of the Premier Division clubs plus the First Division outfits who achieved top-flight licences, will be responsible for implementing at local level what is intended to be a dramatically improved marketing strategy for the senior game here.

More than €500,000 will be spent during the coming months on promoting the relaunched league and Mooney says the initial aim is to boost overall attendances by two thirds during the course of this year.

"This represents another piece of the Eircom League jigsaw falling into place," commented league director Fran Gavin at yesterday's press conference.

"This is a vital part of a strategy for us, these people all have the game in their blood and we're confident that they're going to play a huge part in making the league a success."

CLUB PROMOTION OFFICERS

Gerri O'Neill(Bohemians), Anthony Rooney(Bray Wanderers), Paul Reidy(Cobh Ramblers), Adrian Desmond(Cork City), Noel Martin(Derry City), Terry Collins(Drogheda Utd), Paul Johnston(Dundalk), Daniel Walshe(Galway Utd), Dave Russell(Bohemians), Patrick Collum(Longford Town), Sinéad Fraher(Sligo Rovers), Declan White(St Patrick's Ath), Colin Forde(UCD). TBC: Shamrock Rovers, Waterford Utd.