New hope, old fears

AS the Premier Division kicks off this evening, the eircom League of Ireland stands poised between the dream and the reality.

With the FAI now taking direct control and pumping money into prize funds, development and marketing, the dream is of financially stable clubs playing better football in improved grounds with more bums on seats. Don’t expect overnight success, they warn us, but look for measurable progress over the next three or four years.

The reality is that this new season opens with the champions and dominant club of recent years beginning their campaign at home to Kildare County in the First Division.