Mark Scanlon feels a pyramid structure for Irish football is ‘long overdue’.
A third division in the League of Ireland will be established in 2023, as Mirror Sport revealed last year.
A consultation process is now underway to determine which clubs will join, but it could be 10 teams operating on a geographical north-south divide.
League director Scanlon said yesterday: “Every club in this country should have a dream to play at the highest level that they can.
“And if they can move from their local area into regional and national leagues then that’s what we’ll be looking for.
“Whether it’s a B team from a current club, a partner club, or a brand new geographical area where some clubs are already in our underage leagues.
“I don't think the structure in year one will necessarily be the structure in three or four years as more clubs will have an interest in getting to that level.”
Promotion and relegation between the current First Division and the new third tier is on the cards.
But the reserve sides of existing League of Ireland clubs are unlikely to be allowed to move up and down.
The prospect of the League Cup being contested by First Division sides and the clubs in the new third tier only has also been discussed, but not settled on.
That competition is on ice again once again this season and Scanlon was unable to say if and when it would return.
League prize money remains the same as last year while RTE will show 15 live league games as well as the FAI Cup semi-finals and final.
TG4 will screen nine live matches from the Women’s National League, up from four last season.
Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers have had their stadium ban overturned with Scanlon admitting: ‘It’s not something we want to happen.”
The Hoops were slapped with the punishment - and a fine - after one of their fans set off fireworks during a game in Waterford last season.
The match was stopped and two supporters were arrested after fireworks exploded in the stands and above the players on the pitch,
Rovers slammed the pair but later appealed the severity of the punishment.
Yesterday’s ruling means supporters will now be allowed into Tallaght Stadium for tomorrow week’s league opener against UCD.
Rovers will instead pay €5000 although the FAI refused to say what the initial fine had been.
Scanlon said yesterday: "First of all, this was a decision of the independent disciplinary committee to which all these things go to.
"This has gone through the full judicial process at this stage and the decision was released.”
Asked if the stadium ban had been a headache for the FAI as it would have set a precedent, Scalon said: “It's not something that we want to happen at any time.
“We want people in the grounds and we want to increase attendance. It's unfortunate that it happened but the safety and welfare of all fans is very important.
"Across all clubs this year we are making sure that we have a system that can stamp out increased numbers of pyrotechnics that we saw across last year. "
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