It's win or bust for First Division clubs

Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson was not privy to those discussions but, as an articulate and outspoken opponent of the decision to scrap the play-offs â which means three teams will be relegated and only one promoted at the end of this season to facilitate a reversion to two divisions of 10 in 2018 â his views on how First Division clubs have been forced into this corner carry considerable punch.
âI think itâs really sad that thatâs something weâve come up with,â he says. âItâs sad that weâve got to a stage where we put forward the scenario that a team works extremely hard over the whole season to finish on top, and then the best we can come up with is that they have to win a one-off match to win the league. I donât think itâs in keeping with the fairness of the game. Itâs silly, to be honest with you, and it just shows where we are in the First Division that weâre basically grasping at straws to come up with such a naĂŻve scenario.â