IT HAS not been the best of seasons for the much maligned League of Ireland (LOI). Playing second fiddle to the commercial monster that is the Premier League across the Irish Sea will always ensure the domestic game struggles.

Unfortunately it almost seems that the Sky Sports packages offered to football fans nationwide would need to be banned to allow the domestic league to gain a foothold. Recently Bohemians lost their ownership battle in the High Court. Various other clubs are on the brink of a financial crisis, leaving more than 80% of all League of Ireland players worried if their jobs will be around next year. That in itself leaves the league as a whole in a more vulnerable position than usual.

Speaking after a home game against Derry City two weeks ago, St Patricks Athletic boss Johnny McDonnell admitted “it is going to be very difficult now, it will be awkward to get lads out of contract, back in contract and you’ll probably be asking them to come back in on less wages than they were on.”

With businesses all over the country working to skim costs, the LOI is aware that they too have to address issues relating to expenditure. The widely held view that “the League has been over inflated [financially] for a few years” was backed up by McDonnell.

A recent UEFA financial report revealed clubs in the Republic of Ireland spent a higher percentage of their income on their player’s wages than any other country in Europe. When questioned by The Ballyfermot Press the FAI spokesperson assured supporters that they were making this issue their priority for next season. Press Officer Eoghan Rice explained the organisations plan to introduce a ’salary cost protocol’, which will curtail and control clubs spending.

The plan is different to the ’salary cap’ used in American football in that it relates not to how much a player can earn but rather how much of their income a club can spend on wages. “It is hoped this measure will reduce wage bills to the proposed 75%” Rice said. “Our main concern is clubs putting themselves in long-term jeopardy, these are difficult times and this adjustment period will be beneficial to the clubs in the long run.”

We can hope that the future is bright but for now the league is enduring a rough patch. Keith Fahey, whom many regard as St.Pat’s best player, is off to England soon and the fear amongst supporters is that more will follow in a mass exodus in search of increasing scarce wages.

The enigmatic Fahey joins the likes of Kevin Doyle, Paddy McCourt and George O’Callaghan as examples of the leagues failure to hold on to its top stars. Whilst these players cannot be denied an opportunity to further their career, it leaves the League lacking in the style and pulling power needed to draw in the crowds.

On the flip side there is always a conveyor belt of young talent coming through but again the League suffers as any good 14-year-old is likely to be tempted by the bright lights of England should even the mighty Grimsby Town come calling.

The FAI’s preference is that young players stay at home but they are legally allowed to leave if they wish. Thus as a business the League is in a vulnerable position, their assets are constantly being stripped.

In fairness to the FAI their work at grassroots level is highly commendable but with those roots being pulled out prematurely, will they ever have a chance to grow?