Soccerway

granshalad May 24th, 2008 13:49

Every team that applied for a domestic licence last season, in turn agreed to the criteria set out to them, to be able to gain one, and then make the top 12 cut for the new IFA Northern Ireland Premiership. It was always going to end in tears, for the unlucky Premier League clubs who would not make the final cut, but is it now just farcical, or are we following the rules.

We have Bangor for an example. Bangor where in the 1st Division last season, and have played 2nd tier football for a long time now. When brought down the most common denominator, they came 19th last season in Northern Ireland. So why have they got ahead of Donegal Celtic?

Donegal Celtic are playing victim - or should I say, vicTIM - by saying the IFA refuse to have a Celtic team or a West Belfast team playing top flight football next season. The cries of sectarian hatred existing in the IFA, from Suffolk Road are strong, but realistically, can we call them sectarian, that they let teams like Cliftonville, Newry City and Dungannon Swifts in, all with Roman Catholic community followings in their midst.

DC came 13th/13th in the overall rankings, after eliminating Portadown, and teams failing to meet the criteria. Did DC miss out due to sectarian hatred, or because they just didn't read the rules.

DC claim to have 'plans' in the form of a new home stand, and away terracing. Now this is all good news, as it is better than nothing, but DC claim a Premier spot should be theirs for these plans. Now look at Bangor, they have gone out, and put new seats in the away stand, a disabled area, new toilets, first aid room, drugs testing room, improved segregation, if you want it, they've done it. They have gone out and done the work.

Now compare that to what DC have done, which is, well, not a lot. They still have two IKEA stands, a hill for an away end, and that's it really.

So is it farcial that the 19th best team can get a spot in top flight football ahead of DC (and Stute for that matter, even though they made it, Bangor did come 11th in the rankings, Stute slipping into 12th), or is it just us following the rules that have been set out from the start. If DC really wanted a place that bad, they should of worked their way for it? Or is merit the most important thing?

GL