CLIFTONVILLE manager Paddy McLaughlin has warned that many Irish Premiership clubs will struggle to survive if a small number of fans remain
While top clubs almost certainly need a financial bailout from Stormont’s executive to stay afloat, McLaughlin echoed the sentiments of club president Gerard Lawlor, who believes the current restrictions and the lack of cash have an overwhelming impact
Speaking ahead of tonight’s North Belfast derby with the Crusaders at Seaview, McLaughlin said: « Football without fans will not survive and clubs will not survive You need supporters in the park
« We played Glentoran on Saturday and it was normally full, one of the biggest games of the season, but it was like a friendly game with around 300 in the ground
« You talk about the lives of the players, the lives of the supporters, the members of these clubs – it’s all based on their club And if you start taking that away from people their mental health will suffer. point they are passionate about their sport It’s life for many people «
Like all managers, McLaughlin struggles to get used to the ‘new normal’, especially pre-match preparations
« You are only allowed a limited number of players in one room and they are spread across three rooms, » McLaughlin said
« It’s so weird because you talk to them as a group, then you move on to the next group It’s not the same as talking to them like a
« There might be someone who isn’t in the locker room you want to talk to and who’s in another room But that’s all we have to work with – that’s it or nothing «
The man from Derry added, “At halftime you do your team talk on the pitch. It’s like going back to minors; you do a five minute field briefing and the boys just want to start over because they’re cold «
Last week, Ryan Curran caught a late winner to kick off the Reds’ home league campaign against Glentoran as the Crues scored three points at Warrenpoint
Cliftonville FC, NIFL Premiership, Crusaders FC, Glentoran FC, North Belfast Derby
News from around the world – GB – The ‘new normal’ hard to get used to: Cliftonville, Paddy McLaughlin
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
