THE PREMIER LEAGUE today announced that they hope to introduce a select number of Friday night games starting in the 2016-2017 season. While that is obviously a positive for many supporters, there is a potential knock-on effect on the League of Ireland since most of their games are played on a Friday.
Former League of Ireland manager Roddy Collins told TheScore.ie that he thinks the Premier League proposal is just another problem in the long line of issues that’s killing League of Ireland football.
“The League is dying on its feet and this is just another nail in the coffin,” Collins said.
“Anything that can adversely impact the league now is just another nail in the coffin. Would you rather watch a sub-standard game or sit in a warm environment and watch the Premier League?”
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One thing in the league’s favour is that since most of their fixtures are played over the summer months, it won’t be going head-to-head every Friday night with the Premier League – early speculation is that there will be about 10 Friday fixtures.
But Collins thinks that regardless of how many times that Airtricity League goes up against the Premier League, there are still plenty of problems in the league – starting at the top.
“All you need to know about the league is that it was referred to by John Delaney as a ‘problem child’,” Collins said.
“That was a real kick in the teeth to all the people who work really hard in the league and to the players who give 100%”.
Collins says he doesn’t think the announcement from the Premier League will prompt any serious rethink by League of Ireland authorities and can’t see the health of the league improving under its current stewardship.
“After 37 years as a player, manager and pundit, I have lost all faith in the league of Ireland,” Collins said.
“If I was talking to a young player now I would tell them to get out of the league and to get out of Irish football, to play GAA.
'It's another nail in the coffin' - Roddy Collins on Friday night Premier League vs LOI
THE PREMIER LEAGUE today announced that they hope to introduce a select number of Friday night games starting in the 2016-2017 season. While that is obviously a positive for many supporters, there is a potential knock-on effect on the League of Ireland since most of their games are played on a Friday.
Former League of Ireland manager Roddy Collins told TheScore.ie that he thinks the Premier League proposal is just another problem in the long line of issues that’s killing League of Ireland football.
“The League is dying on its feet and this is just another nail in the coffin,” Collins said.
“Anything that can adversely impact the league now is just another nail in the coffin. Would you rather watch a sub-standard game or sit in a warm environment and watch the Premier League?”
One thing in the league’s favour is that since most of their fixtures are played over the summer months, it won’t be going head-to-head every Friday night with the Premier League – early speculation is that there will be about 10 Friday fixtures.
But Collins thinks that regardless of how many times that Airtricity League goes up against the Premier League, there are still plenty of problems in the league – starting at the top.
“All you need to know about the league is that it was referred to by John Delaney as a ‘problem child’,” Collins said.
“That was a real kick in the teeth to all the people who work really hard in the league and to the players who give 100%”.
Collins says he doesn’t think the announcement from the Premier League will prompt any serious rethink by League of Ireland authorities and can’t see the health of the league improving under its current stewardship.
“After 37 years as a player, manager and pundit, I have lost all faith in the league of Ireland,” Collins said.
“If I was talking to a young player now I would tell them to get out of the league and to get out of Irish football, to play GAA.
“They will just get their heart broken.”
Originally published at 18.24, 12 December.
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division honest assessment Roddy Collins