We're now halfway through our first season of MNS programmes. It's a 36-week run, and with 18 programmes under our belts, it's probably a good time to assess how we've fared so far.
To judge by the emails and letters we've received since the programme first went on air, the overwhelming reaction to the programme has been hugely positive.
It's rare enough that a programme gets so many emails and positive reports in the newspapers so we must be doing something right, however we won't be resting on any laurels for sure.
I think it's fair to say that everyone on the team knows that a series of 36 shows needs variety, and we will be endeavouring to introduce new items and new ideas, and I once again reiterate, that if there's anything you feel we're not doing, or could do better, feel free to let us know. And although we may not be able to act on every idea proposed to us, we will take all comments on board, and where practicable, put them in motion.
Like many businesses at the moment, money is an issue, and there isn't a bottomless pit of funds for MNS. We have to operate within a budget that is set before the season, and we can't go over that budget.
There are some ideas that might look great on paper, but are simply too expensive to put into practice. One of the regular points made to us is about the possibility of covering First Division matches, which in theory sounds great but in reality requires another six camera crews and reporters to travel the highways and byways of the country.
Many of the First Division grounds don't have television gantries, so you then get into the business of building gantries, and pretty soon the budget for the season is gone, and you still have ten weeks worth of programmes to go.
Others have offered to provide us with video coverage of games that, with respect to those offering, is not broadcast quality. We have standards that we wish to maintain and I'd hope that supporters would endorse that view.
The idea of rotating the panel to have different faces, and different views seems to have gone down well. Roddy Collins has his detractors, but as a recent poll on the MNS website proved, he continues to be one of the most popular panellists.
Even his most ardent critics seem to be coming around to the fact that Roddy is never shy about giving an opinion, and he's someone who gets people talking about the game here, including those who only have a passing interest in the eircom League. That can only be a good thing.
It was very nice to welcome Eoin Hand to the MNS studio for the first time this week. Regular listeners to RTÉ Radio's coverage of the eircom League will know that Eoin is one of the most knowledgeable commentators on the league, getting to see at least a couple of matches every week, and through his work in helping many young players who are returning from the UK having had apprenticeships at clubs over there, he's also hugely knowledgeable about the depth of young emerging talent coming through.
Eoin's daughter from South Africa, Shannon, along with a young supporter of the league, Kevin Ronan, were visitors to the studio this week, and I think they enjoyed the experience.
Incidentally, good luck to Eoin and Pauline on their forthcoming nuptials.
There's no doubt that the league faces an ongoing battle to win the hearts and minds of the Irish sporting public. When faced with headlines in the media of clubs struggling financially, and even possibly going out of business, it makes the league a 'hard sell'.
There's no doubt that clubs like Galway and Sligo took a bravely ambitious step to go down the full-time route, but until the crowds going to games improve, such a set-up is going to be hard to sustain. It's basic business. If enough customers are not coming through the gates every fortnight, then it's hard to make ends meet, and pay the players' wages.
The fact that the clubs must adhere to the league's 65% cap on players' wages vis-a-vis turnover is forcing some clubs to offload players, which makes for the sort of headlines that eircom League fans would prefer not to be reading, but if it results in clubs operating within their means then surely it's to be welcomed.
We must never allow another situation arise like we saw at Shelbourne a couple of years ago, where cash was splashed like there was no tomorrow, and while there was temporary glory for the Reds, ultimately it was the road to ruin, or at least the First Division, for the club, and they are by no means alone. Shamrock Rovers had their problems, as have several others.
Financial mismanagement is not solely a League of Ireland problem. Ask supporters of Leeds United and Luton Town what they think about the way their club's boards approached the business of winning football matches and they might have an interesting opinion. Luton will start this season with minus 30 points in League Two in England. Enough said.
It brings me back to the job of getting more bums on eircom League stadium seats. Noel Mooney has done an impressive job as the league's Promotions Officer, and the figures are going in the right direction, albeit, much slower than everyone would like.
Of course, a show like MNS will help spread the message that footie here can be good (witness last month's Goal of the Month competition), but the bottom line remains that facilities remain a huge factor. Go to a match in the Premier League in England and let's face it, lots of Irish people do so on a regular basis, and you'll go to a pristine stadium, with good seats, overhead cover if it rains, plenty of toilets, a good choice of food and drink on sale, and it's a match day experience.
Too often here, you'd have gone into a ramshackle stadium, with a crackly public address system, grotty loos, and crisps and chocolate the only food on offer. Things are changing, but the perception remains that some of the eircom League grounds are still planted well back in the 1960s, and with Government purse strings being tightened all round, the likelihood of funding for improvement diminishes.
Finn Harps, Bohs, Shamrock Rovers, and Drogheda United amongst others, all have great plans for new stadia, some further down the road towards construction than others, - How long will it be before all grounds in the league reach a certain minimum standard, because until they do, Noel Mooney and his promotions crew will face an uphill struggle.
Damien Richardson made an important point on this week's show, when he said that success for eircom League clubs in European competition is the real barometer of the strides made by the league here, and it's with that in mind that I wish Drogheda, Cork and St Pat's lots of good luck as they embark on their European campaigns this week.
We've coverage of the Drogheda - Levadia Talinn , and Cork City v Haka matches on Wednesday and Thursday of this week live on RTÉ Radio 1 Longwave 252. Let's hope we're celebrating Irish wins.
