THE prospect of a 16 club National League Premier Division championship came into sharper focus in Dublin on Saturday after representatives of 20 clubs had endorsed the suggestion.
It will now be forwarded to thee annual general meeting of the National League next June and if adopted there, could be implemented for the 1998/99 season.
Under the proposed terms of the new format, the Premier Division championship would be staged on a two round basis, with each of the 16 clubs playing 30 games.
If endorsed, it would mean that four new clubs would have to be elected to membership to maintain the numerical strength of the first division championship at ten.
At the same meeting, all 20 clubs re iterated their opposition to any move to relocate Wimbledon FC to Dublin. The views of the two clubs not represented, Derry City and Waterford, were canvassed on the telephone and in each instance, they expressed their opposition to the proposal.
"It shows that opposition to the proposed move is united - there is no suggestion that any club is prepared to break ranks on the issue, said Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive.
