The Search For Two New Clubs
Following on from Dublin City's withdrawal from the League of Ireland Premier Division in the middle of the 2006 season, the number of clubs in the league was reduced to twenty-one (eleven in the Premier Division). This left an extra gap to fill which was taken by a club that may have otherwise played in the League of Ireland First Division. That in turn required a new club to be accepted into the league to fill the slot and make up the FAI's intended numbers in the First Division.
Furthermore, on 15 December 2006 it was revealed that Limerick FC, who were benchmarked to play in the First Division for the 2007 season subject to a successful licence appeal, were not granted the requisite licence by the FAI's Club Licensing First Instance Committee. They appealled to the Club Licensing Appeal Board but the initial decision was upheld. The club licensing process governed by UEFA has been in operation since 2004 and sets out to ensure certain minimum standards are in place at every club. With almost €4,000 in outstanding fines, a below-par youth system and no stadium, as a long-term lease on Hogan Park had not been agreed, Limerick FC's league involvement came to the end of the road. The ruling meant that Limerick could have been without a senior soccer side for the 2007 season - a first in 70 years - but John Delaney, the FAI's chief executive, although disappointed, urged prospective applicants from the area to make a case for inclusion in the FAI-run league. Eager to welcome applications for a licence from other clubs in the Limerick area, he stated, "We want a healthy Limerick based club in the eircom League of Ireland and if interested entities seek a licence, we would assess them carefully for their suitability to meet the criteria required to play in the league."
The final identity of the possible two new clubs no longer remained unknown after it was announced on 6 February 2007 that Wexford Youths F.C., were invited to partake. The establishment of the new side owed to a growing support for a senior club in County Wexford, led by millionaire construction magnate Mick Wallace. It was also understood that a new entity, known as Limerick 37, had formed and applied with the intention of taking the place of Limerick FC in the First Division for the 2007 season. Outside of Limerick and Wexford, other early indications had pointed to a possible new club from the south or west, in particular County Mayo or County Kerry but no potential development ever transpired on those fronts. If the FAI had not been successful in finding replacements due to a failure on the applicants' part in meeting the required standard for entry, they may have had to start the 2007 season with only 8 First Division sides as opposed to the preferred number of 10 clubs.
However, to add further complications to the beginning of the new season, Limerick FC chairman, Danny Drew, was granted an interim court injunction on 16 January 2007 stopping the introduction of any new clubs into the leagues. The injunction prevented the FAI from negotiating any contracts with any new entity to replace Limerick FC for a period. It was also believed that the injunction stopped the FAI from granting a licence to another new team and also prevented the participation agreement being signed by any of the proposed new national league sides which had applied for a licence. Worries were that the decision could have resulted in the formation of the new look Premier Division and First Division being put back while the case ran its course as initially the FAI had planned to have all clubs signed up to the participation agreement by 17 January 2007. However, the case failed at the subsequent stage and it seemed only to have delayed the expected invitation of Limerick 37. The new club were eventually invited to join the League of Ireland First Division on 9 February 2007, having been awarded with a First Division licence. Both Limerick 37 and Wexford Youths accepted their invitations.
Read more about this topic: 2007 League Of Ireland, Pre-season Developments
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