Derry city will play their opening home game of 2017 SSE Airtricity Premier Division
DERRY City travel to Dublin to kick off the start of their SSE Airtricity Premier Division 2017 season.
The Candy Stripes face Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday, February 24 with kick off at 7.45 pm.
Manager Kenny Shiels will have his first home game of the season against Limerick on Sunday, March 5 at 2.30 pm.
But with redevelopment work underway at the Brandywell for a new stadium, Derry City will play their home games at Maginn Park.
The mouth watering tie of the new season will see Derry City play 2016 champions Dundalk on Monday, March 13 with kick off at 7.45 pm.
Meanwhile, following a proposal from the Premier Clubs Alliance (PCA), the Board of the Football Association of Ireland has ratified the SSE Airtricity League switching to a 10-team, two division structure from the 2018 season.
The FAI has been in discussions with the PCA, and their legal representative Michael Cush SC, over recent months regarding all aspects of the SSE Airtricity League.
At the end of the 2017 season, the First Division champions will be promoted, while the bottom three teams in the Premier Division will be relegated.
Over the last two years, the FAI Board has placed the future of the SSE Airtricity League at the top of its list of priorities by commissioning two independent reports, to look at the overall structure of the League (Consultation Process Report) and the League as a Brand (Branding Review Report).
From the Consultation Process Report, a number of recommendations have started to be implemented, including:
- Aiding clubs with Strategic/Business Plans
- Focus on Facility Development
- Recruitment of a Marketing Executive
- Establishment of a Marketing Group with club representation
- Restructuring of the League format
- New official SSE Airtricity League website for 2017 season
The next meeting with Michael Cush and the PCA will take place on January 16.
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