- For this season there was a change from the structure of previous seasons, with the First Division reverting to intermediate status and the new Premier Division being renamed as the Irish Premier League. The league consisted of 16 teams, incresed from 12 teams the previous season.

- Dungannon Swifts, Ballymena Utd, Limavady Utd and Larne were the top four in the previous seasons First Division and were all promoted.