2008–09 Lega Pro Prima Divisione

Events

Start of season

The league was to feature four teams relegated from Serie B in 2007–08; Avellino, Ravenna, Spezia, and Cesena. Two vacancies were created with the re-admission of Avellino to Serie B, and the bankruptcy of Spezia.

It featured six teams promoted from 2007–08 Serie C2: Pergocrema, Reggiana, Benevento, Lumezzane, Portosummaga, and Marcianise.

The remaining 26 teams were to come from the teams that played in 2007–08 Serie C1 that were neither promoted nor relegated. Of those, Lucchese (8th in Girone B), and Massese (13th in Girone B) were also banned creating two more vacancies.

Three of the four vacancies were filled by Virtus Lanciano, Pro Patria and Lecco which had lost in last year's Serie C1 relegation playoffs and were destined to play in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. The fourth vacancy was filled by SPAL, which lost in last year's Serie C2 promotional playoffs and was thus destined to remain there.

Promotions

Cesena won direct promotion to Serie B for the 2009–10 season by finishing first in Girone A. Just one year ago Cesena was directly relegated from the same Serie B for finishing in last place. Gallipoli also won direct promotion to Serie B by being crowned champions in Girone B. It was Gallipoli's third consecutive year in Lega Pro Prima Divisione/C1 after winning promotion from Serie C2 in 2005–06.

Relegations

Legnano and Potenza were the first two teams relegated by finishing last in their respective divisions. Both teams had been in Prima Divisione/C1 for two consecutive years after winning promotion from 2006–07 Serie C2.

Four teams were relegated by losing in the relegation playoffs. Pro Sesto was relegated after 4 seasons in Prima Divisione/C1, winning promotion from C2 in 2004–05. Pro Sesto was forced to play in the playouts two other times, winning one and losing the other in 2006, but asked to remain in C1 to fill vacancies. Sambenedettese also lost in the Girone A playouts after 7 seasons in Prima Divisione/C1, winning promotion from C2 in 2001–02.

In Girone B, Pistoiese and Juve Stabia lost in the relegation playoffs. Pistoiese had been in 2001–02 Serie B, and after being relegated that year, spent the next 7 years in Prima Divisione/C1. Juve Stabia was promoted from C2 2004–05, spending the next four seasons in C1/Lega Pro.

Teams

On 14 August 2008 the following clubs were confirmed to be competing in the division:

Girone A

Girone B

League tables

Girone A

Girone B

Promotion and relegation playoffs

Girone A

Promotion

:Promotion playoff semifinals :First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

:Promotion playoff finals :First legs played 14 June 2009; return legs played 21 June 2009

:Padova promoted to Serie B

Relegation

:Relegation playoffs :First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

:Pro Sesto and Sambenedettese relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

Girone B

Promotion

:Promotion playoff semifinals :First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

:Promotion playoff finals :First legs played 14 June 2009; return legs played 21 June 2009

:Crotone promoted to Serie B

Relegation

:Relegation playoffs :First legs played 31 May 2009; return legs played 7 June 2009

:Juve Stabia and Pistoiese relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione

References

References

1. (2008-07-25). "L'U.S. Avellino riammessa in Serie B". Unione Sportiva Avellino S.p.A. - Sito Ufficiale.
2. (2008-07-25). "Via libera per l'Avellino: la squadra irpina "ripescata" in Serie B per la stagione 2008/9". [[Italian Football Federation]].
3. (2008-07-22). "Covisoc: fuori in nove dai campionati professionistici". Goal.com.
4. (2008-07-31). "Calcio: Il Consiglio Federale ha deciso i primi ripescaggi Lega Pro". [[ASCA (news agency).
5. (2008-08-14). "Campionati 1^ e 2^ Divisione 2008/09 - Formazione dei Gironi". Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico.
6. "Venezia, nuova penalizzazione".
7. "Pescara, un punto in meno".
8. http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/43799/Disciplinare,+riscritte+le+classifiche {{Dead link. (February 2022)
9. (7 August 2008). "Tre punti di penalizzazione al Potenza, prosciolta la Salernitana".
10. (20 May 2009). "Comunicato ufficiale N. 162/DIV del 20 Maggio 2009". Lega Calcio Professionistico.