FAI announce 1000% increase in prize money

The Football Association of Ireland has announced record prize-money for the 2007 domestic season, which will see the prize-fund top €1m for the first time - a 1000 per cent increase in the space of just two years.

The FAI has taken over running of the eircom League this year, wresting control from the clubs in a merger approved in 2006.

And among the chief innovations in the coming season are an unprecedented level of live television coverage and a record prize fund for the domestic competitions.

Live TV coverage, on RTE 2 and Setanta Sports, of Premier Division games has been announced for the first five weeks of the season, part of a commitment to screen 50 live games this year.

And the prize-money has also been increased, the total fund eclipsing the €1m figure for the first time.

The figure represents a ten-fold increase from what was available just two years ago, with almost half of the prize fund to be distributed through league placing.

The winner of the 2007 Premier Division will receive €225,000, the runners-up €100,000 with €50,000 going to the third-placed team.

There are prizes for teams right down to ninth place in the top division, while the winners of the First Division will benefit to the tune of €50,000.

eircom League Chairman Paddy McCaul said: “This season our clubs will compete for a prize fund that is worth in excess of €1 million, a massive rise from the €98,000 that was on offer two years ago.

“The league will also benefit from a €500,000 marketing campaign and for the first time there will be a genuine effort made by every club to integrate with their local communities.”