It’s time to work towards the return of fans: Mclaughlin
■ Cliftonville boss speaks out in hope that supporters will be back soon
CLIFTONVILLE manager Paddy Mclaughlin has said it is time for fans to return to Irish League football.
Supporters have been shut out of games since mid-december as Northern Ireland battled another wave of Covid-19.
However, with the virus in retreat, and plans being made for the return of spectators in England and Scotland, calls are growing for the Executive to consider reopening stadiums.
Mclaughlin said the absence of fans will be especially felt this weekend when the north Belfast derby is staged at an empty Seaview, and he said their return cannot come quickly enough.
“You definitely want to see fans back,” he said.
“I think the atmosphere in the games is missing massively, especially here at Solitude — they make some racket and they create a brilliant atmosphere and it is intimidating for the away side.
“Without the fans it is never the same — and never will be the same — and the sooner we get them back in, the better.”
Attendances at games this season had been capped at 500 supporters and since December 19, fixtures have been staged entirely behind closed doors.
However, the Executive is working towards reopening society on the back of the vaccination rollout and a huge drop in cases and deaths.
In England, football authorities are piloting the return of spectators, with 4,000 due at next week’s Leicester-southampton FA Cup semi-final and 8,000 at the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham the following weekend.
The May 15 FA Cup final will be played in front of 21,000.