Harps against 22-team League proposal
Last updated : 15 January 2004 By Dave Mervyn
Speculation is already rife that if a two-thirds majority is garnered by the Bray vote, the changes could have an immediate effect ahead of the new season, due to kick off the week ending March 21.
Harps secretary Joe Doherty is adamant that if the changes are ratified, a 22-team league could not go ahead until a decision is made at the league’s AGM later in the year. ‘No matter what happens at this meeting, it’s going to be a 10-team Premier and a 12-team First Division in 2004’, he said.
‘If clubs decide to go for the 22-team league in 2005, this season could regarded as meaningless. You wouldn’t have to worry about promotion or relegation and the majority of clubs will be playing meaningless matches.’
‘If you also have 22 clubs with only four prizes on offer at the top (league title and European qualification), it means the other eighteen clubs end up with nothing. With 42 games, 21 of those away from home, there are pros and cons to it all’, he added, ‘but having discussed it with our board, there are a lot more cons to consider.’
