Clubs must move on and get set to return: Baxter
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Baxter added: “You shake hands and honour people as you should do. If you feel strongly about something you fight to the last breath of it but once a decision is made you move on.”
Crusaders players returned to training last Thursday in preparation for either the start of next season or a new Europa League challenge. Baxter’s men will feature in the preliminary round, single-leg ties on August 20 if Coleraine lift the Irish Cup later this month.
“The early indications are we could see a September start so we’ve got to be ready for whatever challenge awaits,” added Baxter. “Hopefully we can soon get an idea of rough start dates. I’d like to see the 38-game league programme be maintained and I can see that happening if we start in September. You could slot in a few midweek games.
“You could have a 31-game league without a split or a 22game league with a split giving you 27 games in total. The start date will determine the number of games we are able to play.
“I’m not anxious about that, we will look forward to playing football again and it shouldn’t be that far away. It’s important the players are tuned into the programmes we are giving them.”
Ballymena United will face Coleraine and Glentoran wrestle with Cliftonville in the two Irish Cup semi-finals at Windsor Park on July 27 but there will be no supporters in attendance.
The Irish FA will then seek guidance from the NI Executive before any decision allowing fans to attend the Cup final at Windsor Park on July 31.
There will be a few departures from Seaview with Matthew Snoddy, Sean Ward and Kyle Owens leaving the club.
Glentoran legend Paul Leeman is also leaving the coaching staff for “personal reasons”.
Baxter added: “Paul’s son Zach is doing well at the football and together with his work, being the ultra professional he is, he has felt the pressure of being on time for all the demands of football.
“We will leave the door open for a good friend and wish him every success. Matthew and Kyle have been placed on the transfer list and the lads weren’t getting much game time. We haven’t renewed Sean Ward’s contract and allowed him to move on.” • PORTADOWN have handed one-year contracts to Greg Hall and Callum Mcveigh.
The Ports have also signed former Everton and Newry City midfielder Barney Mckeown on a two-year deal.
GLENTORAN and Ballymena United have expressed an interest in signing former Linfield defender Chris Casement.
Casement is being released by the Blues this summer along with his defensive partner Josh Robinson, who has now joined Larne.
The 32-year-old former Ipswich Town man was just seven games shy of making his 200th appearance for Linfield when he was unable to agree terms on a fresh deal.
The right-back previously worked with Ballymena United manager David Jeffrey when he was in the Windsor hotseat.
Robinson, who had spells with Crusaders and York City, has confirmed his move to Inver Park, linking up with his good friend, former Blues ace Andrew Mitchell.
The 27-year-old will join Larne once his deal with the Blues expires at the end of July.
“If the pandemic hadn’t happened I think Larne could and would have finished higher than sixth last season, so there is a good opportunity to try to build on that,” said Robinson.
“I’m very excited to get playing again and hopefully the Larne fans take to me and I can play my part in helping move the club forward.”
Larne boss Tiernan Lynch added: “We’re delighted that Josh chose Larne because there were a lot of clubs interested in him.
“He was delighted to come here after hearing what our plans are and where we want to go.
“I think it speaks volumes now when you talk to players and tell them what our plans are that they want to come here.
“Josh is a lad who seems to be a born winner. He’s won titles at Linfield and Crusaders and has now decided to come to Larne.”