Bohemians proposal a cause for some heated debate

Just when it appeared that Saturday's a.g.m. of the Eircom National League would pass off without any major talking point, the proposal to eliminate two teams from the Premier Division produced some inevitable debate.

The controversial blueprint of reducing the number of top-flight teams from 12 to 10, starting in the 2001-02 season, was proposed by the Bohemians' delegates, and seconded by Shelbourne. After some sticky debate, however, the actual vote was deferred until the management committee meeting on June 19th.

It was agreed that the 22 clubs from the two divisions should have more time to examine the blueprint. Following that decision, Shelbourne brewed up some further storm by threatening to withdraw from next season's League Cup.

The new-look Premier Division would be brought about at the end of the upcoming season, when the bottom four teams would enter a play-off against each other to decide who may be dropped. Similarly, the top four from Division Two would play-off to result in two teams that, with the two winners from the Premier Division, would then enter an open draw to decide the two teams to go back into the 10-team top flight.

That, however, was by far the most contentious issue of the a.g.m., held in Dublin's Herbert Park Hotel. Whether Shelbourne will stand by their threat to withdraw remains to be seen but other matters for the upcoming competitive season were agreed without much fuss.

It was decided that the revised League Cup would be increased to 26 teams, to include one non-league entry from each province for the first time ever. They will be Bluebell United (Leinster), Rockmount (Munster), Swilly Rovers (Ulster) and Mervue United (Connacht).

The date of the league kick-off was also set for the week ending Sunday, August 13th and includes in the first series the meeting of champions Shelbourne and promoted Bray Wanderers. As expected, a vote to extend the current league run of 33 games to 44 was turned down on a vote of 7-4, with one abstention. The plan to replace the Reserve Division with an under-21 Division was also announced.

Of other interest was the review of the league accounts, with both income and expenditure being substantially higher in 1999-00 compared to the previous year. Income was u192,00 £192,000 higher (38.1 per cent), mainly due to the new Eircom sponsorship, as well as an increased grant (to u40,000) £40,000) from the FAI towards appointing a marketing executive.

Letters of apology were also acknowledged from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Minister for Sport Jim McDaid. Addressing the a.g.m. league chairman Michael Hyland talked of the "mixed fortunes" that hit the league last year, paying tribute to the late Dr Tony O'Neill and the late John O'Brien.

Chairman: Michael Hyland. Hon Treasurer: Brendan Menton. Vice-chairman: Milo Corcoran. Hon life vice-president: Enda McGuill. Board of Control: Gerry Cuffe, Derek Wilkinson, Michael Cody, Alan Duncan, Brendan Dillon, Phil Mooney, Ollie Byrne, John Byrne, John Delaney, Joe Colwell. Representatives to FAI board of management: Ray Gallagher, Michael Cody, J Byrne, John Delaney, P Mooney, J Colwell.