NIFL to address Irish League's recent European failures

Gerard Lawlor was appointed as NIFL's first Chief Executive Officer in July 2021

Northern Ireland Football League chief executive Gerard Lawlor has explained that they are set to enlist independent help as they bid to arrest the recent downturn of fortunes among Irish Premiership clubs in European competition.

This summer has seen Linfield and Crusaders exit the Europa Conference League at the first qualifying round stage, with Cliftonville also falling at their first hurdle as they went down on aggregate after entering the competition for the second qualifying round.

Larne lost 7-0 on aggregate to Latvian champions Riga FS in their opening Champions League qualifier and will face Kosovo side Ballkani in the Conference League third qualifying round.

“We must react to what has been a relatively disappointing year for our clubs and that continues a trend over recent years," Lawlor told BBC Sport NI.

“So I think we have to look back and say if we keep doing the same thing we’re going to get the same results and nothing’s going to change."

Lawlor says the financial benefits from continental competition do not just affect the competing Irish League clubs.

“The income from European football is now too important because it is the biggest generator of income not just for the four clubs playing in Europe but throughout the whole league from Uefa Solidarity money, for investments in the league.

“So for us it’s not enough to talk about it any longer. We are still working on this but the plan is to maybe bring in someone independent who comes at this from the outside and looks at it and see how can the clubs in Northern Ireland perform better in European competitions and why are they not performing better."

'We don't want to lose European places'

Lawlor believes there is a consensus among clubs in their desire for improved performances in Europe for the common good.

“Let’s all work together and see what some of the answers are that we get and see does it improve and fix the problem," added the NIFL boss.

“Everyone wants this to change so if this can give us the push to change and go in the direction that we want to go then it can only be positive.

“Our Uefa coefficient improved significantly. We don’t want to be slipping back again and losing one of our European places."

Fight for more funding continues

The long-awaited release of £36.2m promised to local football for stadium improvements was announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons in February, with the possibility of further funding mooted.

“We continue to fight. There are exercises going on behind the scenes at the minute with regard to business cases some clubs are working through. The costs are rising, they’re constantly rising," explained the NIFL chief executive.

“We are still caught up I think in the battle around Casement Park which I think we’ve always been dragged into and used in a political football at one stage or another.

“We have to look after our own."

Lawlor revealed that talks with government continued behind the scenes.

"Gordon Lyons has been true to his word with me from day one, I think we are moving, albeit slowly and in the background, but there is progress being made.

“If the Labour Government are going to invest in Casement Park I am over the moon with that but they already have a letter from me telling them they have to invest in football in Northern Ireland also.”