Wallace calls for reduction in First Division fixtures

Wexford Youths FC manager Mick Wallace has today called for a reduction in the number of First Division games from next season onwards.

"We've a mid season break at the moment, but the idea of a break is a waste of time unless it's more than a week," he said.

"We had an FAI Ford Cup game last weekend against Killester and then we play Monaghan at home next Friday, so that's not much of a break in reality, so we'll train as per normal and not change our routine.

"We've to replay the FAI Ford Cup game and we're still in the League Cup, and this is all on top of playing every team in the Division four times.

Wallace's Wexford Youths team entered the league last season and the football-obsessed businessman has invested millions of euro into his community project at Ferrycarrig Park on the outskirts of Wexford Town.

This has resulted in the first ever eircom League of Ireland team from the county being represented at this level in domestic football.

Wallace's squad is completely amateur and the Youths owner and manager believes that there are too many games in the congested First Division fixture schedule.

"There was a managers meeting last year and four of the five managers that turned up agreed to do away with midweek fixtures and wanted to play each other three times instead of four, as the majority of the teams in the division have to make a living for themselves outside of football," he said.

"By the end of the season teams and supporters are sick of the sight of each other as well – there's too much repetition.

"We had a meeting and were asked for our thoughts, but the definition of this democracy is say what you like and do what you're told."