Coleraine chairman Colin McKendry urges clubs to be united in their decision making

McKendry pointed to the wrangling in Scotland as an example of how not to do things as football continues to battle with the coronavirus crisis.

With teams set to meet tonight to discuss how to resolve this season ahead of a UEFA deadline of May 25 the Bannsiders chairman says it is key clubs are given enough time to make informed decisions.

"We cannot afford there to be division like there is in Scotland," said McKendry.

"We don't want to make rash decisions, clubs need enough time to make an informed decision on all this."

Despite UEFA stating earlier this week that it is not thinking about amending any qualification for European competitions next season, McKendry says they will have to monitor the situation in case their thinking changes.

"For me it will be key if UEFA make a decision that leagues of our standing are ruled out of European competition next season," he said.

"If that is the case then we will have to react as an association, as we will have to see where that leaves us.

"I know we are all individual clubs/businesses but we have to do our best to look after each other."

McKendry is hopeful the current season can be completed, but if it cannot be finished he feels that it should be decided on current standings including promotion and relegation.

"If the league was cancelled now then I would say you have to go by current placings and make Linfield champions, with Coleraine as runners-up, and Crusaders third," he said.

"However I also feel that you need to have promotion and relegation to be fair to the other teams.

"For me it would be unfair on Portadown if they were to be denied getting up.

"I know Institute will probably feel it is unfair on them as they will argue that they still had games to play to get themselves off the bottom, but a decision has to be made somewhere.

"Unfortunately we are not in control of things at present in the way we would like to be, but hopefully we will be in control of things better next season.

"The decision may be taken out of our hands though if the government makes a ruling. All we can do is take advice on things and go from there.

"For me though clubs need to be ready to be in a position to play football again, whether it is this season or next.

"I would like us to see if we could give it as long as it takes to complete this season."

Coleraine are one of the teams currently availing of the furlough scheme, and McKendry welcomed the news that it has been extended.

"With the furlough scheme being extended it gives clubs more time to make decisions rather than being forced into knee-jerk ones," he said.

"Clubs will be in a position to assess where they are at over the coming weeks."

Looking to the future though McKendry feels clubs need to look at contracts in a responsible manner as football and life in general bids to get back on its feet again after the pandemic.

"I think as clubs we need to be responsible whenever it comes to signing players on new contracts," he said.

"We cannot go out now, given the current situation, and offer ludicrous contracts to players, and then if it blew up in our faces we couldn't go and ask for help because we would be the architects of our own downfall.

"We have to act responsible as a league and realise the situation we are in.

"Also we need advice on players coming out of contract, hopefully the league will give us some guidance on that soon. We need clarity on the situation."

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