Eircom League Chairman Paddy McCaul has welcomed the unanimous decision of the league’s management committee to increase the Premier and First Division prize funds.
This follows last month’s announcement of the FAI’s multi-broadcaster TV rights deal which increased the existing prize fund of €100,000 to over €400,000. The total eircom League prize fund now stands at €450,000.
The winners of the Premier Division will now receive €100,000, an impressive €82,000 increase from the existing €18,000.
The First Division champions will receive €25,000, up €13,000 from €12,000.
The Premier Division runners-up will receive €45,000 (up from €12,000) while the First Division runners-up will receive €12,500 (up from €6,000).
Third-place in the Premier Division will receive €25,000 (previously €6,500), fourth €15,000, fifth €10,000, sixth €7,500 and seventh €6,000.
In the First Division, the third-placed club now receives €7,500 (previously €2,500) with fourth receiving €6,000.
Teams finishing in eighth to twelfth position in the Premier Division will receive €5,000, as will the fifth- to tenth-placed teams in the First Division. Premier Division prizemoney now totals €233,500 (up from €45,000), the First Division €81,000 (up from €20,500).
Clubs hosting each of the 17 scheduled live TV league fixtures will receive €5,000 while the home club featured in each of the five planned ‘as live’ league games will receive €2,000 each.
The eircom League Cup winners will now receive €15,000 (previously €12,000), runners-up will receive €7,500 (previously €6,000) while the beaten semi-finalists will receive €2,500 (previously €1,500).
Fair Play prizemoney rises from €10,200 to €13,000.
Welcoming the decision, eircom League chairman Paddy McCaul said: “I’m delighted that by dividing the increased prize money in this way, each eircom League club – from those at the top of the top of the Premier Division right through to those in the First Division – receive a share of the €450,000. And greater television exposure will further assist all clubs in maximising attendances, sponsorship and other commercial revenues.”
