The Airtricity League Fixtures were released this lunchtime. Alongside them came confirmation from the FAI that three teams will go down automatically, with just the First Division champions being promoted.
The change in structure was originally propositioned in the Conroy Report of late 2015, and we learned last week that the FAI was strongly considering it, much to the dismay of a lot of fans.
Following a proposal from the Premier Clubs Alliance (PCA), the Board of the Football Association of Ireland has ratified the SSE Airtricity League switching to a 10-team, two division structure from the 2018 season.
The FAI has been in discussions with the PCA, and their legal representative Michael Cush SC, over recent months regarding all aspects of the SSE Airtricity League.
At the end of the 2017 season, the First Division champions will be promoted, while the bottom three teams in the Premier Division will be relegated.
Over the last two years, the FAI Board has placed the future of the SSE Airtricity League at the top of its list of priorities by commissioning two independent reports, to look at the overall structure of the League (Consultation Process Report) and the League as a Brand (Branding Review Report).
The FAI have also confirmed that they have set up a marketing group to help promote the League.
The opening round of games sees Ronan Finn make an immediate return to Oriel Park as Shamrock Rovers will visit the champions Dundalk. FAI Cup winners Cork City face the longest trip in either division as they open up away to Finn Harps.
That marketing group has a lot of work to do, as the FAI have scheduled the first league meeting of Cork City and Dundalk on Saturday the 25th of March - one day after Ireland and Wales in the Aviva Stadium.
