League of Ireland season should be extended in future, says Stephen Bradley
The Hoops play until December due to European action, but Stephen Bradley wants longer seasons in general
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley wants the regular League of Ireland season extended in future.
He knows there will be opposition from some First Division clubs but is confident the majority of Premier Division managers will agree with him.
The Hoops are facing an extended season this year anyway, having qualified for the European group stages.
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They host PAOK in the Europa League playoff tomorrow night, but trail 4-0 after the first-leg in Greece.
But Rovers already have the Europa Conference League groups in the bag and the draw for that takes place on Friday.
Their season will run to Christmas regardless, and could be extended further into February if they make the knockout phase.
But Bradley feels the league season should start earlier than mid-February for all sides, and finish beyond late October / early November.
And if it did, he believes it would help solve the annual fixture chaos and griping when league and European games collide.
“Our off-season is too long. I think we would all agree,” said the Hoops boss today.
“I get it's a complicated one, extending the season at both ends and other clubs will give out about it financially to pay players extra.
“But I think that's what we need to be looking to get to because it’s definitely too long.”
Bradley continued: “It seems like every year we have a conversation, debate or someone is giving out about scheduling. I think it would make all of that a lot easier.
“We want it and speaking to a lot of other managers in the Premier Division, they want it as well. I don't think there’s any doubt about that.
“What it takes out is all this debate about getting games moved, getting games off, having back matches. It takes all that out.
“It's not as if we're where we were years ago where half the Premier Division is part-time. I could be wrong, is anyone part-time?
“The majority are full-time. I understand the resistance has come from the teams in the FIrst Division, more so.
“But if we want to keep improving the league and moving it forward, that's definitely something we need to look at. It needs to be really considered.”
Bradley said: “We have no reason to have three-and-a-half months off.
“I know it's every now and then but we're not snowed in for a month or so. We have no reason to have that time off.”
“It won’t happen overnight but start by extending each end and build towards something. It’ll take time to get there but we’ve no reason to have that time off.”
Bradley says Shamrock Rovers will look to arrange friendlies with Scandinavian, English and Scottish sides as preparation for the group stages.
“In terms of extending our own season this year, it's not a problem considering how long we have off,” he added.
Meanwhile, Aaron Greene and Darragh Nugent have been ruled out of tomorrow's PAOK clash with knocks. Johnny Kenny is back in training but he and Rory Gaffney won't feature. Josh Honohan is suspended.
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