We must give Championship every chance: Mullen
NEWRY City manager Darren Mullen says it would be wrong to play the Irish Cup with no Championship season and he’s dismissed calls to throw the campaign in the bin.
The Irish FA’S attempt to secure elite status for NI Football League Championship clubs was rejected and further doubt has been cast on the season starting after lockdown regulations were extended to March 5.
Ards chairman Warren Patton has called for the Championship season to be discarded, while former NIFL and Ards chairman Brian Adams also argued that the campaign should not go ahead.
City boss Mullen said: “I just hope that we haven’t been forgotten about. I read Brian Adams’ comments and I couldn’t disagree more. I don’t see the benefit of scrapping a season. There’s no need for a sweeping statement like that when you have players who are ready to train and busting to get back at it.
“I haven’t given up on the season. The environment has to be safe for us to return but I certainly wouldn’t write the season off.”
The Irish FA remain determined to play the Round of 32 Irish Cup matches but Mullen says it wouldn’t be right to proceed with those fixtures if the teams outside the Premiership have not been playing league games.
“My view has been to play it like the Champions League in a condensed period at the end of the season, if it’s played at all,” added Mullen.
“It’s unfair to ask lower league sides to go into games against Premiership teams. If the Championship season cannot start, I’d be surprised if the Irish Cup went ahead, I can’t see that happening.
“It doesn’t make sense and I would not be for that. The teams above you would have an even bigger advantage.
“I could understand any team pulling out of the tournament. You come back into training for your season, not for one game in the Cup when you aren’t match conditioned.
“I’m sure the Premiership teams wouldn’t want that to happen either.”