Kerry FC are set to join the League of Ireland in 2023 after the FAI accepted the club’s application to apply for a license.
In a statement released via the FAI, “Kerry Football Club” is backed by ex-Shamrock Rovers player Billy Dennehy and American based directors Steven Conway and Brian Ainscough.
The club plan to take their place in the SSE Airtricity first division in February 2023. The first division currently comprises nine teams.
The statement read in full;
“Kerry Football Club is delighted to announce that our application to enter the Club Licensing process with the Football Association of Ireland has been accepted.
It has been a dream for many years to provide the highest level of senior football in the Kingdom and Kerry FC hope to be successful in our bid to bring League of Ireland football to Mounthawk Park in February 2023.
Led by League of Ireland stalwart Billy Dennehy and American based directors Steven Conway and Brian Ainscough, we have been working with the Kerry District League for many months now to realise this dream and complete the player pathway for the players of Kerry after six years competing in the underage National Leagues.
The people of Kerry have always been proud of their appetite to compete at the highest level in all sports and we hope to provide this full pathway for all those players representing Kerry Football Club. Kerry FC believe that a successful application will offer real opportunity to promote our game in the Kerry region as we look forward to bringing the biggest clubs in Irish football to our county.
Now that the licensing process is underway, we welcome all offers of support as we share this exciting journey with the people of Kerry. More information will be released in due course.
Yours in Sport,
Kerry Football Club”
Last year the FAI announced plans to introduce a new 10 team League of Ireland second division in 2023. The anticipated start date is September 2023.
The league of Ireland first division was reduced to nine teams ahead of the 2022 season following Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely merging.
The FAI took the decision not to replace the 10th team for the 2022 season as feasibility studies were underway in recruiting new members for 2023.
