Cork City join chorus of clubs disappointed with league’s expansion plan

CORK CITY are among the clubs disappointed at proposals to expand the Airtricity League Premier Division by just two for the 2012 season.

Although nothing will be ratified until the FAI Board of Management gives its final approval on December 10, a meeting of the National League Executive Committee at Abbotstown has recommended that the Premier Division be expanded from 10 clubs to 12 in 2012, which would likely mean that one club would be relegated and three promoted from the First Division at the end of next season.

In an earlier submission, Cork City had proposed a move to a 16-team top flight and while a source at the club yesterday described the more modest expansion as “a step in the right direction”, there was disappointment that a more radical shake-up of the domestic game was not imminent.