IT MAY TAKE TO WEATHER

Bradley: There are no easy answers to this but we have got to give it our best shot.. if we can’t return to action then Irish football is in trouble

STEPHEN BRADLEY fears Irish football will be set back 20 years if the rest of the season is scrapped.

Efforts will continue today to map out a safe and financially viable way to resume the League of Ireland campaign behind-closeddoors.

Clubs are due to receive an official breakdown of the FAI’S financial package which it claims will help bridge the gap.

Some clubs remain deeply sceptical and five of the 10 Premier Division sides are opposed to returning as it stands.

But Shamrock Rovers boss Bradley fears for the League’s future if clubs “fold up the tent and say ‘see you in March’”.

According to Bradley, last Friday’s developments for the four clubs in European competition was a significant and positive step.

Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians got the green light to resume training on June 8, with the rest of the league following suit on June 29.

From this day next week, players and staff from those four will begin stringent Covid-19 testing as preparation.

And in late July, the four clubs will meet in a minitournament over a week or 10 days to serve as preparation for the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers.

“We have to adapt because with the coefficient, the European games have a knock-on effect for years to come. It’s important the four teams are ready.”

Those qualifiers are still scheduled for late July but UEFA will decide on June 17 if they are kicked back again, have rounds reduced or are scrapped altogether.

Bradley said: “Last Friday was a positive step down the road to getting us back playing.

“The big worry for me – which would have been a real disaster – would have been to take the easy option and just close it down and see you back next year.

“That mentality doesn’t belong in Irish sport and I’m delighted that football didn’t go down that road.

“I’m not being blasé about it because I understand it’s really difficult out there for clubs and it’s the same for us, you’re losing colossal money.

“I’d say we’re losing the most in terms of gate revenue so I understand the hit people are taking.

“But taking the option of just closing it down and coming back next year would set us back 10, 15 or 20 years.

“When a player here moves away, people are outraged that they didn’t fetch €500k, €1m, €2m or €3m, but you have to build up the respect of your league for that to happen. Making sure we get back playing in a safe and proper manner will show people around Europe that we take football in this country seriously.

“If we just cancel the rest of the season, the knock-on effect will be unbelievable.

“I genuinely believe it will knock us back up to 20 years in all aspects.

“It’s not going to be plain sailing.

“Every club has their own reasons for wanting it back, or not wanting it back and I understand that.

“Everyone is getting hit hard but as a football community we have to adapt with the times. “The easy thing would have been to say ‘see you next year’ and just hope there’s a vaccine by the time we come back.

“That’s completely wrong mentality.”

Bradley continued: “Around the world we’re seeing how businesses are having to adapt.

“Other leagues and professions are doing it and we shouldn’t be any different. It’s delicate and we should be patient.

“But while there are a lot of issues to iron out, I think we’ll get there if we trust and listen to the experts. We can’t go looking for the negative or keep knocking it.

“We’re dealing with something that has never happened before so let’s just roll with it.”

The easy option would be to just close it down but that mentality doesn’t belong in Irish sport.

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