Cobh Ramblers set for League of Ireland return

9 Nov 2012 15:07:00

Cobh Ramblers look set to return to the First Division in 2013 after a four-year absence from the League of Ireland

Cork club Cobh Rambers are in talks with the FAI and PFAI and could be in line for a return to the Airtricity League next season to compete in the First Division.

Ramblers were relegated to the A Championship in 2009 due to financial troubles, but had applied to compete in the League of Ireland for the 2012 season. Once again, they are in discussions with the FAI, and look close to a return due to the fact there are currently only seven teams confirmed for the 2013 First Division.

Tralee Dynamos are also rumoured to be in talks about stepping up to the First Division, with PFAI chief executive Stephen McGuinness telling TheScore.ie about the ongoing talks. “We’re in discussions with the FAI at the moment and I would be surprised if there’s not more teams in the First Division next season,” McGuinness said. “We’re in discussions with them currently on some teams that owe money to former players and that might be a stumbling block to them coming into the league.

"We’re in discussions with the FAI to try and overcome some of those problems to ensure that there is another one or two teams in the division. That ultimately will give employment to some of our members and also make that league more attractive for supporters and sponsors and people in general."

The dissolution of Monaghan United in June has seen Limerick FC promoted to the Premier Division, with no team relegated to take their place. McGuinness pointed out that this situation was far from ideal, and that the FAI and PFAI were looking to fill the void. “With seven teams, you don’t need to be a rocket scientists to see that it doesn’t work," he admitted. "It’s in our interest to get teams that may have fallen out in the last couple of years back in, but that has to be done on the premise that monies that are owed to former players are honoured.

“We would be open enough to discuss them with the FAI and with the individual clubs involved. Hopefully we’ll see more than seven teams in that division in the next couple of weeks.”

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets

Inside Goal.Com

Inside Celtic: End of season review
With just the Scottish Cup final left before the summer break, Inside Celtic looks back on a memorable season for Neil Lennon's men
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants six new signings
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality
After a season marred by controversy and a failure of its top teams to put up a credible Champions League challenge, the world's supposed best league is falling behind
Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley