Premiership duo look at summer move as game debates change
points in the bag. You’d expect this to be another great contest with the form they’ve been in this season, and especially with the way they played against us at Windsor.”
Mulgrew shows no signs of slowing up in mind or body.
He concludes: “From a personal perspective, I’m as fit as ever and still as hungry as ever to drive this team forward and help make this team the best.” • CARRICK Rangers have signed Ohio-born striker Sachem.
The 25-year-old has previously played for both Liberty University and Buxmont Torch in the United States, before moving to Slovenia where he represented ND Adria, ND Gorica, NK Krka.
Langhammer added: “A stepchange improvement in stadia and facilities is vital. There are concerns and issues to be faced, however, notably in terms of Uefa places, fan and travel considerations, the contribution of central and municipal government and the degree to which the respective governing associations would support it.
“A fair settlement from wider Uefa distributions for the domestic game is a pre-requisite, and that may be the major stumbling block for the IFA.”
The plan is to make the 34 clubs up from 20 League of Ireland sides, 12 NIFL Premiership outfits and two from the Championship. It is thought the top eight southern and top five northern clubs would be in the top division, with the other place determined by a playoff between the First Division champions in the League of Ireland and sixth-placed side in the Premiership.
At the same time as the All-Island League plan has emerged, NIFL has been consulting clubs over a seasonal change so that sides will be playing competitive football in the summer, leaving them better prepared for tough European tests.
Crusaders are among the clubs keen to embrace change, with a campaign running from May to February a possible option, but there remains opposition to any tinkering.
Langhammer added: “It is a ‘no-brainer’ that teams need eight to 10 weeks of competitive football before Europe, so we need an adjustment in seasonality, though we also need investment in facilities like we have seen in Iceland.”
Linfield chairman Roy McGivern (above) says the club will study the All-Island League proposal while remaining open to a summer switch.
“Our position is we are open to recommendations on tweaking the season,” he said.
“We will see what NIFL produces and we are open to that debate. On the All-Island League we haven’t taken a position.
“We will listen to what’s on offer and need to know if it’s financially sustainable and beneficial to our clubs.”