Recoup losses with Euro money: Spike
IRISH League legend Glenn Ferguson has suggested predicted gate receipts should determine how much of the European money filters down to each club in the Danske Bank Premiership.
Uefa’s decision to proceed with Euro qualifiers in August has crushed clubs’ hopes of finishing the league season on the pitch.
The Irish FA will not grant a further extension to the campaign beyond August 3, when three sides must be nominated for European competition.
The Association still hope to finish the Irish Cup, with the winners securing a Europa League spot.
It’s expected Linfield will compete in the Champions League’s four-team preliminary round on August 8 and 11 with our two Europa League representatives’ first games on August 20.
The qualifying rounds will be played on a single-legged basis.
As the league campaign cannot be completed, a sometimes heated discussion has taken place around the distribution of £1m European money.
Coleraine chairman Colin Mckendry was angry at nine clubs supporting a ‘22 game proposal’ to nominate clubs for Europe, a recommendation that would mean Cliftonville qualifying for the Champions League but not declared champions, with Linfield and Glentoran in the Europa League spots. Glentoran said they would be willing to share money if they win the Irish Cup, while Linfield and Coleraine are considering the issue.
Former Blues hero Ferguson says the distribution of money should reflect the home gate receipts the clubs would have received had the final seven league matches been played.
“My personal opinion is that people are holding out for more money than they necessarily deserve,” said ‘Spike’, who is now Linfield’s academy director.
“There are seven matches left for each team and why not give the teams the same gate money the last time that fixture was played in the league?
“If 500 people were at the same fixture earlier in the season then give the home club the equivalent of what was officially declared, I think that’s a fair distribution.
“The teams have been saying they will lose money by playing behind closed doors so this way you can work out what is their expected income generated by those games.
“Give the clubs the gate receipts they would have pocketed.
“That way they are not losing out on the money they would have got had the season been played.
“There’s no divine right for any team to walk off with all the money but it would be a goodwill gesture to share some of it.
“I know that if other teams were in Coleraine’s or Linfield’s position they wouldn’t be so open to the idea of sharing money. That’s not being nasty towards them.
“Teams have budgeted for European football and maybe if they don’t get that money they will feel the strain.
“I read Colin Mckendry’s comments and if I was aware other clubs had a meeting I wasn’t aware of to try to force something over the line, I wouldn’t be too happy either.
“Clubs can play a dangerous game sometimes.”