Bohemians boss Alban Hysa believes the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division needs to grow its fanbase if it is to become fully professional.
Pro contracts were introduced to the league for the first time ahead of the 2023 season. Those deals were subject to the same standard player contract and minimum wage regulations as men's players in the League of Ireland: a minimum of €430 per week full-time and €130 for part-time.
Bohs are part-time, and are aiming to upset the odds by scalping league champions Athlone Town in tomorrow's Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup final.
Ahead of the Tallaght Stadium showpiece, Hysa stressed the importance of building strong foundations across the country to nurture the league as a whole.
"Of course we're looking at certain clubs having professional contracts, Shamrock Rovers in the past and now Athlone," he said.
"At the same time, rather than me saying we should be in the same position, I know we’d need a lot more from league structures in terms of growing the fanbase.
"All of that money being spent doesn’t come from the fanbase in the women’s league. Unfortunately, the fanbase isn’t there.
"We in Bohemians will have the biggest average attendance, whereby it’s around 500 at Dalymount Park, but most of the others only get 100 fans.
"The reality is what’s coming in doesn’t justify the money that’s being spent.
"It’s a touchy subject, one that cannot be clarified quickly. It goes above my pay grade.
"Our structure and strategy at Bohemians is to develop our pathways to give our players the opportunity of progressing in this league. It’s a sustainable pathway rather than paying to bring players in from different countries."
Hysa moved to Ireland from Albania 25 years ago, and played League of Ireland football with Dublin City and Monaghan United.
He managed Treaty United and then Bohs' Under-17s girls team before succeeding Ken Kiernan as the seniors boss a year ago, settling into the role to guide a youthful crop through an encouraging campaign.
The Gypsies will be underdogs against Athlone, but having reached the All-Island Cup final in August (they were beaten by Wexford on penalties), Hysa's vibrant outfit have shown they have enough about them to unsettle the big guns.
"The key is for Athlone not to play all that well," was Hysa's blunt assessment.
"We need them to have an off day. They've just won the league, played in Europe and have amazing players. For a young team like ours, it’s a mountainous task.
"We’re well aware of being underdogs but anything can happen in a cup final.
"We’d need to be 100% but the opposition might be a little bit off it and you get joy.
"We’ve done our work and I’m not going to share what we’re doing Sunday that but we’ve to be conscious of because they can cut you open in a moment."
Hysa has a BA in psychology, and works as a life coach. He's a deep thinker, articulate and sincere. There's a practicality to his outlook too - Hysa knows his side are up against it, but he can see a path to glory on the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.
"We feel that if we don’t concede, we’ll win this final because we always score goals," he declared.
"Already the women’s section at Bohs has been pretty good this year. Our U19s just won their cup final.
"It’s been an amazing year for the first team in terms of stats. We’ve had two cup finals and the club is progressing all the time.
"Our club is doing a lot in the background to progress the women’s side, treating the squad the same as the men’s squad in all directions. That’s not the same in all clubs.
"It would be a great legacy to be the team that won the first ever women’s cup for the club.
"I know there will be a lot of Bohemians fans here on Sunday. If that’s the case, all those young kids watching our team will want to replicate their idols in the future when they grow up."
