Radical proposals to restructure the eircom League have been revealed by the FAI and the association's chief executive John Delaney is warning that there is "just one chance to get this right".

"The proposals being put forward will bring the league to a whole new level," he said.  "This is a clear and progressive path forward. . .for developing the league, making it more competitive, sustainable, and financially viable."

Last year, consultants Genesis recommended sweeping changes to ensure the long-term survival and financial stability of the league.  They advised that the league merge with the FAI.

The FAI, who must now seek the 22 league clubs' approval at a special general meeting next month, intends increasing prize money, implementing a four-tier divisional structure including renaming the top flight the 'Premiership' and, amongst others, reducing it from 12 teams to 10 from 2009.

The 2008 campaign is earmarked as a transitional one when three clubs will be relegated and one promoted.  An 'A' championship will also be introduced that season - non-league sides will require a 'developmental licence' - with teams promoted / relegated to it from the First Division.

There is, of course, no promotion or relegation this season and an Independent Assessment Group (IAG) has been set up to determine which clubs - a major bone of contention - take their place in the top flight next year.  This committee is chaired by Uefa member Des Casey and includes former international Niall Quinn, former Irish Sports Council chair Pat O'Neill and FAI projects manager Helen Raftery.

Clubs must meet strict criteria to remain or, indeed, climb into the Premiership and the IAG's final recommendations will be subject to FAI board approval.  There will be an even breakdown between on and off field criteria which, the FAI's says reinforces its belief that both footings are of equal importance.

The criteria used by the IAG to determine the 12 Premiership clubs next season is based on a Fifa system of 1000 points with 500 of those being awarded for sporting criteria and the other half for non-sporting criteria.  On-field, the IAG will consider a clubs performance, in both league and cup competition, over the last five seasons and award points accordingly depending on finishing positions.

This season, points will be assigned in accordance with a club's final league position while extra points are also awarded for cup and European performances.  The Premier Division winners receive 22 points while just a single point is awarded to the side that finishes bottom of the First Division.   The FAI Cup winners receive 10 points while second round losers get one.  League Cup winners will receive eight points while losers in the earliest round receive one and so on.

Come season's end and once all 22 teams are assigned their performance related points, a final standings table is arrived at.  Only then will the top team be awarded an overall 200 points, with that total dropping all the way down until the bottom side who get 60.  This total will then be combined with ranking points for the previous five seasons where the top club for that spell will be awarded 300 points and the 22nd ranked side 90 points.

The remaining 500 points available will awarded for off-field performance.  Some 100 points will be awarded on infrastructure, while another 150 points can be earned during the club licensing process although only those applicants eligible to apply for an 'A' licence will be considered for the assessment process.

Another 150 points are up for grabs in what the FAI call the 'Sustainability / Benchmarking and Strategic Planning' criteria.  Benchmarking will be based on licensing trends over a period of years while clubs will also be asked to submit its proposals for continued and prolonged development.  The remaining 100 points will be awarded once the IAG considers applicant's target markets, population densities and attendance figures.

Should all proposals be accepted, clubs will play for a total prizefund of €803,000, up from €450,000 in 2006.  The 'Premiership' winners will pocket €225,000 (€100,000 in 2006) and the First Division champions benefiting to the tune of €50,000, up €25,000 from this season's pot.

A salary cap is also proposed whereby clubs can spend a maximum of 65 per cent of turnover on players' wages.  Also, the FAI claims it will provide some €120,000 for Premiership clubs to employ Club Promotion officers in a bid to promote the game in their respective catchment areas.

League chairman Paddy McCaul said the proposals offered a more appealing prospect for supporters.  "These are fundamental changes," he said, "yet they are fair."

"The proposals are strong, well thought out and are the basis on which we can achieve what we all want - a successful and sustainable National League, played in good stadia, with ever improving standards on and off the pitch," he said.

For full merger proposal see: www.fai.ie