Lucid dreaming? The ambitious plan for Irish football

Businessman Kieran Lucid’s ambitious plan for an all-island league has the potential to succeed where previous initiatives have flopped

All to play for: Daniel Mandroiu of Bohemians and Trevor Clarke of Shamrock Rovers during a recent SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park in Dublin. The teams could yet find themselves playing in a 32-county league. PIc: Getty Images

Last Tuesday, representatives of several Irish clubs – north and south of the border – mingled in Nyon, Switzerland at the headquarters of Uefa, the governing body of European football.

They had much to discuss, notwithstanding the draws for the Champions League and Europa League, which now boast appearance fees that have been keeping an impoverished professional product afloat in this country.

They no doubt ruminated on the chaos of the Football Association ...