NIFL meets with member clubs regarding recommended options to conclude 2019/20 season

The Northern Irish Football League (NIFL) has met with all member clubs to present recommended options regarding the conclusion of the 2019/2020 season.

The Steering Group advocated ‘that the most reasonable, proportionate and fairest solution in the interests of the League would be to conclude Season 2019/20 Premiership campaign in a condensed format with all ‘pre-split’ games being completing to ensure that each club has played each other three times’.

However, the alternative recommended option is to curtail the season immediately and adopt a mathematical model to determine all league placings.

The two options presented to clubs were a return to conclude the season in a condensed 33 game format (preferred option) or to curtail the season immediately and adopt a mathematical formula to determine all league placings (alternative option).

In the NIFL Championship, it has been recommended that the 2019/20 should end immediately, with a mathematical model used to determine final standings.

The Premier Intermediate League has also been recommended to conclude, but promotion to the Championship will only apply to the automatic position, with no promotion playoff to be played.

The NIFL confirmed that there ‘remains a desire of the NI Football League to contest the 2020 Women’s Premiership season later this year when it is safe to do so’.

The NIFL added “a proposed starting date for the 2020/21 is their next important milestone to reach, with clubs left requested to provide their responses on the proposed recommendations by 5pm on Thursday 11th June.”

“Following the collation of club decisions the Steering Group intends to present recommendations to the NIFL Board on Friday 12th June,” the statement finished.