Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Mannus says he believes the Irish League would benefit from a move to summer football.
The 41-year-old had a successful spell with Linfield, before enjoying two stints with Shamrock Rovers either side of seven years with St Johnstone.
He recently retired after helping Rovers seal a fourth League of Ireland Premier Division title in a row.
“I feel the summer league is much better overall,” said Mannus.
The League of Ireland is played primarily over the summer months, with their season running from mid-February to early November.
The Irish League campaign currently takes place over the more traditional months of August to early May.
In September, the Northern Ireland Football League published their five-year strategic plan which included a consultation on a change to the professional playing calendar in Northern Ireland.
NIFL said it plans to “lead and implement” a switch, with an eventual move to summer football a likelihood.
‘Better prepared for Europe’
“From my point of view, having played for long periods of time in both, I just feel summer football is better,” Mannus, who was part of the Northern Ireland squad at Euro 2016, told BBC Radio Ulster’s Sportsound programme.
“When you go into Europe you’re almost halfway through your season, at least a good bit into it, you know what your best team is, what your best formation is, your tactics, you know how to play against other teams, you’re match-fit. You’re much better prepared.
“Whereas I felt in the traditional league set-up when you’re going into Europe you maybe had a few weeks of pre-season and then played a couple of friendly games against teams that are divisions below you, which is difficult when you then come up against teams that are quite a bit ahead of you in all senses.”
The majority of League of Ireland Premier fixtures are played on Friday nights and nine-times capped Mannus feels that is another move which potentially could benefit club football in Northern Ireland.
“Friday nights have been much better too, whether it’s something they want to try here. I know they are trying Friday night games in the Irish League.
“Ultimately it’ll have to come down to supporters, what do they want, as that’s the most important thing. Are you getting numbers on the gates and what’s the best thing for those who are going to watch the games and have done for a long, long time.
“You don’t want to alienate anyone who has been going to the game for 20 or 30 years by changing to a Friday night but I personally think it’s better, a summer league and Friday night football.
“Pitches are better during the summer too.”
‘Irish League has moved forward’
Mannus moved to Shamrock Rovers in 2009 after nine trophy-laden seasons with Linfield, before securing a move to the SPL with St Johnstone, where he won the Scottish Cup in 2013-14.
He returned to Dublin in 2020 and has helped Rovers to an FAI Cup in 2019 in addition to those four league triumphs.
“The Irish League looks like it has moved forward since I was involved. I do try and watch some of the games here and especially in the last few years with a number of clubs having gone full-time.
“You would think with that happening, the standard will increase, the physical abilities of the players, the strength and conditioning levels, technical ability and tactical knowledge, and there is sports psychology coming into it a lot more.
“I don’t know if any of the teams have people working on that but that’s a big factor as well.”
“Overall, I think the League of Ireland is ahead in the tactical side of things. When you see how the teams set up and try and play, see their systems.
“The Irish League has improved and I’m sure it will keep doing so. It’s difficult to compare the leagues as they don’t actually play against each other, it’s just my opinion having seen both, played in both, but you never know for sure until the teams actually play against each other.”
You can hear more from Alan Mannus on Sportsound on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster, which broadcasts from 14:00 GMT on Saturday 11 November.
