Keen to ensure players not in the first team retain match sharpness, Caulfield is keen to explore all avenues and believes a B team — as Rovers have this season — would best suit the club’s needs.

“People talk about the Munster Senior League being an option for us to get into and it possibly would, however that’s not the answer in the long term because you can’t play professional players,” Caulfield said.

“Even if we asked them if we could get in, we couldn’t play any of the fellas who are on the bench, so it’s not helping their situations.

“The ideal situation is either that there’s an U20 or 21 league or that we try to get into the first division. It looks as if the FAI are looking at expanding the First Division with reserve teams and if they are, that’s the way we should go. The problem is that the cost factor is huge, but in my opinion I would love it as it would be the answer to our problems.

“We could keep the U19s after their season ends and, as well, I believe that we would get about four or five hundred people at games.”

Caulfield will be forced to dip into his pool of reserves for tomorrow night’s clash with Bohemians at Turner’s Cross (kick-off 7.45pm) as Darren Dennehy misses out through suspension. The centre-back was red carded in Monday’s win over UCD, and Caulfield had no qualms with the decision.

“I had a bit of a chat with him and he thought he’d get a toe-poke away,” he said. “It was a bit of a clumsy challenge. We looked at it and he realised that it was a stupid challenge and that getting a red card put us under pressure.

“The lads know how tough I am about keeping our discipline. Darren knew he deserved it but the main thing is that he learns from it, as if you want to be competing at the top of the table you have to be able to choose from all your best players.”

Tonight’s game will be City’s fourth Friday game in a row at home. The average home gate this season is above 4,000 and Caulfield knows how important it is to continue to attract big crowds.

“I keep saying it to the lads that it’d be great for the season to stay up at the top and the crowds keep coming. As a player, you want to be playing in front of 5,500 people. The atmosphere has been electric, coming off against Drogheda last week after the late goals was tremendous. Long may it continue, but we need the supporters every week, that vocal ferocity. At 1-1 against Drogheda, the crowd sensed it was a tight match and kept right behind us. There’s no doubt that they play a huge part.”