NIFL Championship managers claim 'discrimination' and demand elite status

MANAGERS from all 12 Irish Championship clubs have called on the IFA and NIFL to support the re-grading of the league to elite status with immediate effect.
LOCKED OUT . . . NIFL Irish Championship clubs have been frustrated by the delay in the 2020/21 season due to its classification as non elite.LOCKED OUT . . . NIFL Irish Championship clubs have been frustrated by the delay in the 2020/21 season due to its classification as non elite.
LOCKED OUT . . . NIFL Irish Championship clubs have been frustrated by the delay in the 2020/21 season due to its classification as non elite.

A statement issued on behalf of all NIFL Irish Championship managers claims their clubs have been 'discriminated against' with respect to the current non-elite grading of the Irish League's second tier.

The managers, who have requested an urgent meeting with senior IFA and NIFL officials, believe they have been 'let down' by the local government and local football authorities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following a meeting of the NIFL Championship Management Committee last night, clubs have voted to start the 2020/21 NIFL Championship season on Saturday, November 28th.

NIFL Championship managers claim the decision to delay the start of the Championship campaign and the uncertainty surrounding training has impacted on the mental health and wellbeing of players, staff and club members.

The full statement entitled 'One Voice - One Game' read as follows:

"There are over 50 players on professional contracts operating in the NIFL Championship and 12 coaches with UEFA Pro-Licenses (or working towards this qualification).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"There are also quite a number of A and B licensed coaches as well as qualified physiotherapists and other support staff.

"The NIFL Championship is classified as ‘Senior’ by the NIFL and a ‘Professional’ league by the

Irish FA. This is exactly the same definition as the NIFL Premiership.

"In addition, Sport NI define elite status as someone who ‘plays in a professional league or competition’ or derives a living from competing in sport’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Many of our clubs and players and coaches have ambitions to reach the Premier Division. We feel we have been let down by both our Local Government and our football authorities in relation to our attempt to sta

"Each club has invested substantial effort and resources ensuring that they have appropriately qualified staff and a designated COVID-19 officer.

"Are these people being told that they are less capable of controlling our environment and our reaction to this pandemic than those in similar positions at Premiership clubs?

"As a group of highly qualified, focused and driven individuals we are well aware of the sacrifices that many individuals and groups have made in our societal effort to fight and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"However, each and every manager has been contacted by players within our squads who have commented on the difficulties they are experiencing as a result of limited training and the uncertain prospect of our league commencing and being completed, even with a truncated or curtailed format.

"In addition, there are important financial implications for all our players who, although part-time, rely to a greater or lesser extent on their football related income.

"Herein lies the crux of the matter: what is the definition of elite? The NI Public Health Legislation (June 2020) concurs with the Sport NI definition of an elite athlete as someone who ‘plays in a professional league or competition’ or derives a living from competing in sport’.

"With over 70 professional players and coaches within our league, we believe that those players and coaches are being discriminated against by the non-elite grading of Championship football whilst the football authorities and the government have granted elite status to the Premiership.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The official NIFL website states that ‘The Northern Ireland Football League can only be as

strong as our member clubs.

"Season by Season we are witnessing the fantastic work carried by clubs often with limited financial and human resources. The NIFL Club Development system is designed to offer support to our clubs’. The NIFL also state that they want, ‘to be a catalyst of positive change by providing leadership and support to Northern Ireland’s leading football clubs’.

"As a group of managers, we are asking NIFL to live up to their stated aim and to support the re-grading of the NIFL Championship to elite status, with immediate effect and allow players,

coaches, members and fans of all our clubs to have a little solace in this extremely testing and

unique time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Allow our clubs to be diligent and support our local communities by bringing some normality and balance in a time of great stress and discomfort to us all.

"To those in positions of authority and influence within the game, we ask you to be circumspect but also fair. We deplore you to work more closely with Championship clubs to be the catalyst for the positive and progressive change that you claim to aspire to.

"As a group we want to be heard and to be granted an urgent meeting with senior representatives from NIFL and the IFA in relation to our position on this matter.

"To our local MLA’s, we ask for your support in facilitating some semblance of normality by allowing your local community clubs to restore some semblance of normality to an already taxing and stressful situation for so many.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We will play our part, we will endeavor to promote correct COVID-19 etiquette within our environment.

"Help us to grow stronger and ensure when we are out of this crisis that our clubs are still here to nurture and pursue the hopes and aspirations of our players, our coaches, our volunteers, our supporters and our communities.

"For and on and behalf of Ivan Sproule, Ciaran McGurgan, John Bailie, Colin Nixon Harry McConkey, Gary Smyth, Dean Smith, Sean Connor, Peter Thompson, Paul Harbinson, Darren Mullan and Colin McIlwraith."

Related topics: