After watching his side battle to a goalless draw in their opening Premiership fixture – Larne manager Gary Haveron reiterated his stance that their cause should have been aided as they aim to qualify for the league phase of the Conference League yet again.

Haveron voiced his dismay on Larne’s social media platforms after their extra-time loss to FC Iberia 1999 in the Europa League on Tuesday night that their league opener at Coleraine would be going ahead as scheduled.

The Invermen had requested for the game to be postponed to allow for added preparation for the double-header against Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar – but Coleraine refused to budge – with Haveron believing that the Northern Ireland Football League should have stepped in and made a decision.

“People simply don't understand what you have to go through in that there in terms of travelling away from home,” he said.

placeholder image — Larne manager Gary Haveron believes their opener at Coleraine should have been postponed

"You’re playing in the heat and travelling back from European games.

"My gripe was never with Coleraine and that there as a club.

"My gripe was that the league didn't step in and actually take it out of their hands.

"Why are the Georgian FA allowed to do it? Why are the Gibraltar FA allowed to do it but yet our association, our league can't do it?

"How can a league not have the authority to step in and change a game?”

After going to the well in Georgia and ultimately coming up just short, Haveron was full of praise for his side’s energy levels and how he believes they had the better of the clear-cut chances.

He added: “I can't overly remember Rohan (Ferguson) have to make a save...other than the tight one that Matthew Shevlin has lifted over his head.

"So the boys defended well and they dug in when they had to.

"But their goalkeeper has just walked off with their man of the match there because he's pulled off three unbelievable saves in the game.”

Haveron will have a fitness concern heading into the Lincoln Red Imps game as Dan Bent had to be withdrawn just 14 minutes into the contest with a shoulder injury.

"It's poor because the ball's gone,” he continued.

"Dan Bent’s kicked the ball, the ball's gone and he's rammed him in the back. It's just dangerous.

"Yes, Dan falls awkwardly, but he broke his arm down here last time last year, so he obviously may be tucking his arm in to protect it, but he's landed heavily on his shoulder.

"He's in the hospital but it was dangerous and there was no need for it.”

COLERAINE: Webb, Kane, Boyle, Patching, Shevlin, Cooper, Ives, Slevin, McDonald, Wylie, Doherty.

Subs: Robinson (GK), Jarvis, McGregor, Wilson, Henderson, Devine, McMenamin.

LARNE: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, Gallagher, O’Neill, Graham, Doherty, Cosgrove, Sloan, Bent, Lusty.

Subs: Carney (GK), McKendry, Randall, Magee, O’Hara, McEneff, Gibson.

Referee: Ian McNabb