NIFL defend schedule after Healy blast
Healy added: “People need to make sure that they aren’t just being selective of the team they want to show on TV on a Friday night for viewing figures.
“I get that Crusaders v Linfield is a big game and that people will want to see it, but put it out at 5.30pm on a Saturday if Crusaders haven’t played in midweek and we’ve had a Tuesday night match, giving the team that did play in midweek an extra 24 hours to prepare.
“For the last number of weeks we have played every single weekend and every single midweek, and over the course of that time we have been expected to play Saturday, Tuesday, Friday on two occasions, so the BBC, NIFL and whoever else need to get their heads together and look at selecting the games in a proper manner for the right reasons.”
A NIFL spokesperson responded: “Club representatives on the NIFL Premiership Management Committee recently voted unanimously to permit the scheduling of matches on Tuesday-friday in order to honour existing league broadcast contracts.
“NIFL officials have supported clubs and broadcasters to ensure as even distribution of games as possible.”
Healy’s team were well worth watching at Windsor Park on Tuesday, as were Dungannon, under new boss Dean Shiels, with both playing attractive football from the back and the Blues scoring a stunning team goal through Shayne Lavery after Joel Cooper had opening the scoring.
“I’ve been friendly with Dean for a number of years and credit to him for the way his team played in a similar mode to his father Kenny,’’ said Healy.
“Dean was encouraging them to be brave on the ball but we passed up many opportunities.”