ANY PORT IN A STORM JUST NOW

Tipton accepts that football is in choppy waters & a break is looking likely

LIKE most other Irish League managers, Matthew Tipton is fearful of what the next few days and weeks will bring for football in Northern Ireland.

The Portadown boss remains hopeful that the Danske Bank Premiership will navigate its way through the current surge i n Covid-19 cases across the UK and Ireland.

But yesterday’s postponement of three upcoming fixtures because of positive results is a stark reminder that the local game is once more sailing into stormy waters.

Ballymena United’s games with Coleraine and Glenavon on January 9 and 12 are both off, while Larne’s trip to Carrick Rangers has also been shelved until a later date.

The Public Health Authority said two cases had been found “within individuals” in Saturday ’s game between Larne and Ballymena at Inver Park.

“I’m not surprised that games here have been affected, simply because we’re in the middle of a global pandemic and football isn’t immune,” said Tipton.

“Nobody loves football more than me, but I ’m also realistic enough to know that the Irish League doesn’t exist in isolation to Covid-19.

“We’re all trying our best to limit its impact, but most of our players have other jobs and some of them are students, so it is difficult.

“The number of cases in the UK is at a record high, so if we think clubs won’t be impacted in the weeks ahead, we’re silly. People are going to get it.

“I don’t want to shut down football, but we have to be realistic and accept that if we get more positive cases, someone in power is going to ask ‘why are they still playing?’.

“If everyone else is going into lockdown and shutting down, is it responsible for football to carry on?

“At this stage, I genuinely don’t know.”

With a number of Irish League fixtures to be rescheduled in an a l re a dy c o n g e st e d c a l e n d a r, concerns also exist on whether the season can be concluded before the end of May.

Portadown, who endured a period of isolation in November when Tipton, several players and staff members contracted Covid, have only played 10 of their 38 league games to date.

“We have 28 league games left and the Irish Cup, if it is played, so it will be hectic, but if more games are called of f, it will be even tougher,” he said.

“In the event of more postponements, do you extend the season beyond the current cut-off point of May 22 or make a decision to limit the season to a certain number of games?

“I know it’s a fluid situation, but I just hope the Irish FA and NIFL offer certainty and clarity when it is required on how we proceed and we can plan accordingly.

“We can’t afford to fly by the seat of our pants.”