CALL: Giorgio Marchetti. Photo: Sportsfile
UEFA have insisted that clubs from countries such as Ireland will be winners, not losers, from proposed new club tournament .
Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA’s Director of Competitions said that the new plan will be a “double safety net” for teams in smaller countries in their bid to make progress in Europe.
The decision-makers at UEFA certainly like tinkering with their formats: the Champions League with group stages; they brought in and then killed off the InterToto Cup; killed off the Cup Winners Cup; replaced the UEFA Cup with the Europa League.
Now they plan a Europa League 2, which would give the league-winning club from certain smaller nations a chance to be successful in Europe.
Progress in the UEL2, as it’s called for now, will be seen as compensation for clubs who lose out in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League. Instead of the current set-up, where 26 leagues are guaranteed a place in either the Champions League or the Europa League, that figure would rise to 34.
“We don’t think there is anyone losing out. This competition has been drawn up in full cooperation with the European Clubs’ Alliance, through consultation everyone had the possibility. This competition in fact. It leaves the Europa League open to everyone,” Marchetti said in Dublin yesterday.
It means, for example, if Dundalk were knocked out in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League next summer, they could go back into the Europa League proper, and then have another path to Europe via UEL2.
Shelbourne have made a statement of their intent to win instant promotion next season with the signing of veteran midfielder Ryan Brennan from St Patrick’s Athletic. New Shels boss Ian Morris has also signed Oscar Brennan from Bohemians.
Brennan scored four goals from midfield for the Saints last season but he joins Conan Byrne in making the cross-city move and he will line out for the Reds in Division One next season.
Cork City have made their fourth signing of the off season with the capture of keeper Tadhg Ryan from Galway United.
Waterford FC have also been busy, agreeing new terms with defender Rory Feely.
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