Right time to wave goodbye
THE postponement of Northern Ireland’s European Championship play-off semi-final against Bosnia this week will surely bring an end to Michael O’neill’s incredible reign. It’s obviously not the way Michael would have wanted to bow out but with such a big job to do at Stoke City, it’s the many years. I keep hearing that what is currently happening is unprecedented; well, in an unprecedented situation maybe unprecedented decisions have to be made for the greater good of the game. There has been a bit of self-preservation from clubs this week. They are under scrutiny and, not surprisingly, under pressure.
3. End the season now and current positions stand: I can’t help but think the longer the uncertainty goes on, the more likely this could be the outcome. I can’t imagine that the league governing body, the SPFL, would want this season to run into September or October. I think there has to be a cut-off point and a decision has to be made or it will simply rumble best time for both parties to shake hands and move on.
I doubt if the rearranged qualifying game will go ahead in June, so now seems the best time for the Irish FA to start the recruitment process.
Michael (right) will be a on.
Will it please everyone? No, but strong leadership is required to get the game back on track and bringing a premature but forced end to this season may be the only choice.
On top of all that, Uefa have said in the last few days that they are committed to finishing all domestic leagues by June 30 but crucially won’t interfere. Medical experts in Scotland are expecting the peak of the virus to be here in June, so you can make up your own mind on whether the SPFL will finish within Uefa’s time frame.
This is potentially one of the biggest decisions ever to be made by the football authorities in Scotland. Pleasing everyone is, and always will be, impossible. Neil Doncaster, the SPFL chief executive, has been vocal on other aspects this week so I will wait to see if his leadership is what he thinks it is or whether he will be remembered for all the