IFA chief Howard Wells said radical reform was necessary

Representatives of the Carnegie Irish Premier League voted against a proposal for 14 clubs in the new-look league set to begin in the 2008/09 season.

It was also agreed that the league will split midway through the season after teams have played each other twice.

The top six clubs will then play home and away again with the bottom six doing the same.

All 41 applicants for the 12 positions will be notified of their current grading, reached by the IFA following a points scoring application system.

Before the CIS League Cup kicks off the new season on Saturday, all hopefuls will know their position in the grading and will know how many points they must accumulate this term in order to make the final cut.