The impending vote by clubs on whether to wrap up the Eircom League in its present form and fall in behind a new FAI-run competition may be making life a little awkward for those languishing near the bottom of the Premier Division just now but at the top, where the issues remain more straightforward, the early signs are we're in for quite a title race.

For the strugglers the situation is tricky. Given the wide-ranging criteria proposed for membership of the new Premier Division it is unclear whether it would be better to spend money on players during the transfer window in the hope of finishing higher in the league or, say, make a few ground improvements.

Both would be worth points in the evaluation scheme but the reality is the subjective way in which just about everything bar results will be evaluated makes it a difficult call to make.

At the top end of the table there are few doubts about the future. The top four clubs will be in the top flight next season come what may. The only issue is which of the four starts the 2007 campaign as the reigning champions.

A glance at the current Premier Division table suggests, of course, the most dramatic thing about this season so far has not involved the top four at all. Rather it is the revival of St Patrick's Athletic who remain on course to challenge for a place in Europe next year.
The Dubliners' improvement, like Longford's slippage and Waterford's dramatic slide underlines that you tend to get what you pay for in this league but credit is still due to John McDonnell for the way he spent the money made available to him.

After a couple of lean years, the club's weekly wage bill has apparently crept over €20,000 per week which is hardly insubstantial but McDonnell has bought well and has got the best out of players who had appeared to lose their way over the past season or two.

Nowhere is this more true than in attack where the decision to bring Trevor Molloy and Paul Keegan back to the club has looked inspired so far. Last year the former scored three goals for Shamrock Rovers - after, admittedly, spending a good deal of time out on the wing - while the latter managed just two for Longford. A third of the way through this campaign and their respective league tallies are four and five as the Inchicore side have won five and drawn five of their opening 11 games. Their 20-point total is twice what it was at the same stage in 2005.

Above them there is a familiar enough look about the emerging contest for the title with none of the top four's fortunes having changed nearly so dramatically during the past 12 months.

Cork and Shelbourne are down three points and one point respectively while Derry, who travel to Tolka Park this evening, are up three, and Drogheda, the biggest winners to date, have improved by six points on their showing during the first third of last season.

Paul Doolin repeatedly bemoaned the number of goals conceded by his side last year and with a restructuring of a defence now built around Jason Gavin, he has ably addressed the issue.

The club have spent heavily but having already won the FAI and Setanta Cups there is no longer any serious doubt about United's ability to mount a serious challenge for the championship. Gavin, Stephen Bradley, Graham Gartland and Brian Shelley have all established themselves but only once so far this season, for the F AI cup replay against Limerick, has the manager fielded an unchanged starting 11. Still, the results, like the performances, have been consistent, with only Shelbourne at home breaking down a well-drilled team.

Notwithstanding Declan O'Brien's run of form, the team does not score many goals but they
don't need to because in 21 league, F AI and .Setanta Cup outings so far this season, United ,have kept 17 clean sheets. It would be a very tall order to maintain that- even a fractional drop in their strike rate would prove costly - but if they do it will take a stunning run by one of their rivals to deprive them of a first league title.

If United do falter between now and November any of the three clubs immediately behind them in the table looks capable of capitalising. Shelbourne still look to have the best squad in the country but Derry City have closed the gap in that department and it will be interesting to see how Stephen Kenny attempts I liven up his side at Tolka Park tonight in the wake of Friday's limp display at Belfield Park.

Cork City, meanwhile, might just have the strongest team when everybody is fit and available. Having failed to replace those who left it the end of last season, City manager Damien Richardson admits getting a player or two in ring the summer window is now a priority.

The club looks to be bringing some decent young players through but for the moment only Billy Woods can come into that rust choice 11 without the team looking significantly weaker.

Despite Friday's rust away win of the season, City will probably relish the short break in the season more than their rivals. All four, though, will be aiming to make the most of the respite for there looks to be a hard slog ahead before what would prove to be the most intriguing title race in years is finally decided.

Next Fixture

Waterford / April 19th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Richmond Park
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Team	Pld	Pts
Shelbourne	10	21
Derry City	10	16
Bohemian FC	10	16
Shamrock Rovers	9	15
St Patrick's Athletic	10	14
Sligo Rovers	9	12
Waterford FC	10	12
Galway United FC	9	11
Drogheda United	9	8
Dundalk	10	4