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NEW STRUCTURE AND FIXTURES OF IFA PREMIERSHIP UNVEILED
IT was an historic day for the Irish Football Association as the fixture schedule for the newly restructured IFA Premiership was announced at a formal press conference, compered by BBC sports reporter Thomas Kane.
The new structure sees the 12 clubs playing across a schedule of 38 match days which will commence on 09 August 2008. The process of promotion and relegation of clubs at the end of the 2008/09 season was also outlined, along with the prize money fund available to the 12 participating clubs.
The press conference was attended by club managers, players and representatives along with IFA staff and key figures of the NI media. Speakers included IFA President Raymond Kennedy, IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells, Chairman of the IFA Premiership Board Jack Grundie, and General Secretary of IFA Premiership Craig Stanfield
Raymond Kennedy took the opportunity to focus on the importance of the 12 clubs supporting and assisting the IFA in its efforts to improve the standard of the local game, raise the profile of domestic football and increase attendance figures, “This is an exciting time for football within Northern Ireland and we are greatly looking forward to the new season kicking off under the restructured format. A lot of hard work, research, and enthusiasm has been put in already by the staff of the IFA which will continue throughout the rest of the season.”
Howard Wells supported Raymond’s comments by confirming the importance of the continued development of the game within Northern Ireland and the need for progress and improvement of club structure and standard of football.
The total prize fund now available to clubs is £400,000 – a dramatic increase on last season. The prize money will be distributed depending on the position within the league at the end of the season. The winners of the new IFA Premiership will receive £50,000 filtering to the 12th placed club which will receive £21,000. There will also be available parachute payments made available to clubs at £5,000. On signing the IFA Premiership Participation Agreement, clubs will receive an advance £10,000 payment of their prize money.
The IFA Premiership will kick off on 09 August 2008. The new fixtures for the forthcoming season, along with the promotion and relegation process, can be viewed by clicking here.
