FOOTBALL: Brown calls for Euro revamp
LISBURN Distillery manager Jimmy Brown has called for another revamp of European football to ease the financial burden being put on part-time clubs.
The Whites kick-off their Europa League campaign tonight against FC Zestafoni at Mourneview Park, but it is next week's return leg in Georgia that has irked Brown.
Distillery will be forced to endure two flights and a three-hour bus journey to reach their eastern Europe destination, resulting in significant expense for the Irish League paupers.
Brown is calling for a new 'zoning' system to be implemented in the qualifying rounds, where teams from the same region would be paired against each other.
"I am not happy with the European draws taking place on June 22 and then the first legs of games kicking off on July 2. We also have a trip to Georgia to fit in next week, and for a small Irish League club it is a long trek with a lot of expense," Brown said.
"I am sure Zestafoni are in the same boat, but they are a full-time club who have chartered a flight to Northern Ireland for their away leg. We have to take two flights and then a three-hour bus journey. It is a massive hike and it adds to the challenge."
Brown said regionalising the European qualifiers would limit the financial stress being heaped on cash-strapped clubs.
"I would like UEFA to maybe consider regionalising these qualifying games," he added.
"They have already got rid of the UEFA and Intertoto Cups. So why not regionalise this Europa League and the Champions League qualifying games? It would save clubs a lot of expense and these 'trips into the unknown'.
"It is nice to have the financial benefits of qualifying for Europe, but then you end up spending it all on travel to places like Georgia. You probably end up losing money."
Linfield were also forced to charter a flight for their Europa League opener with Danish side Randers tonight, with Crusaders having to arrange direct travel to Macedonia for their away fixture with Rabotnicki on July 23.
Glentoran have a mammoth trip of their own in two weeks' time, with the Irish Premiership champions travelling to Israel to take on Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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