by Donn O’SullivanSports Editor
LIMERICK FC return to League of Ireland action this weekend after their mid season break. The Jackman Park based side, currently lying in second spot in the League, face Wexford Youths this coming Friday night at home. The league they return to, was this week, rocked by the news that Premier League outfit Monaghan United have had to withdraw from the Premier Division with immediate effect.
The news comes as a warning to all clubs that the harsh economic climate is having an untold effect on the domestic game. The withdrawal will also serve as a reminder to the FAI, that the domestic game is far from healthy.
According to the FAI statement, “The Football Association of expresses its disappointment at the decision of Monaghan United to withdraw from the Airtricity League Premier Division. The Association regrets that the club has taken this decision at this time and is disappointed that the matter was not discussed with the League prior to the announcement. Under the Airtricity League participation agreement no club is permitted to withdraw from the agreement or cease participation other than by relegation or a decision of the FAI Board to terminate the agreement. Following its meeting, the FAI Board will now terminate the agreement with Monaghan United. Consequently, the results of Monaghan United in the Premier Division this season have been expunged”
The decision to leave is a sad one for any club to have to come to. The fact of the matter though is that Monaghan failed to secure the financial backing to continue in the league.
Monaghan’s Chairman Jim Mc Glone had these words to say, “Monaghan United after much deliberation and soul searching have decided to bring to an end it’s involvement in Airtricity League of Ireland, this decision was a hard one and not taken lightly but it was felt that this was the only real option left to us at this time. The reason we have taken this decision is mainly but not only financial. To keep a team playing at the highest level in this country is expensive and with the clubs inability to tie down a anchor sponsor, coupled with the rising costs of membership of senior football and the lack of support from the national league it was felt that no other option was available.”
When one door closes, another one opens. The loss of Monaghan United has left a hole in the Premier Division for this season which will need to be filled. Now, more than ever, Limerick FC need to secure promotion.
With the withdrawal of Monaghan comes a change in the promotion relegation structure for the First Division. The new structure is as follows, “At the end of the 2012 Season, a Promotion / Relegation Play-Off series shall take place as follows: The second placed Club in the First Division League Championship shall play the third placed Club in the First Division League Championship in a two leg Play-off with the second placed Club having home advantage for the second leg. The winner of this First Division Play-off shall play the eleventh placed Club in the Premier Division League Championship. The Play-off shall be over two legs with the order of home advantage to be decided by the drawing of lots. The winners of the two legged tie shall qualify to compete in the Premier Division League Championship in the 2013 season”
The turmoil of the league will have many more column inches dedicated to it before the season ends. That is for sure.
On the playing front, Limerick FC have a chance this weekend, results dependent, to go top of the table. The Shannonsiders are just one point behind Longford Town.
Limerick manager Pat Scully knows that a win this weekend is crucial to starting the second half of the league as they mean to go on. Speaking this week, Scully commented,
“We played really well to get a deserved win away to Longford Town before the break to go a point off top. We now have to continue our good form into the restart of the league against a good Wexford Youths side and we know nothing short of a professional performance will suffice.”
Limerick this week also announced that Jeffrey Judge is rejoining the club. Judge, who had been at Pike Rovers, will join the Super Blues with immediate effect.
