No relegation means ‘what if’ pressure has been alleviated

With no supporters at games, a packed fixture schedule and coronavirus protocols in place it is a very different landscape for the Irish League.

Now you can add no promotion or relegation to the list following the cancellation of the Championship and Premier Intermediate League seasons.

It looks certain to have an impact on teams in the bottom half of the Premiership as the pressure of fighting for survival has been removed.

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney believs it will have an impact on teams’ mentality.

“It could have an impact,” said Kearney.

“In past seasons you find teams running into their best form just before the split where they know they’re running out of games.

“For whatever reason they up the ante and you generally get bigger performances out of them.

“It’s hard to know how decision will affect those teams though.

“Now that ‘what if’ pressure has been alleviated – it’s like a free hit now, let’s go and enjoy ourselves and play.

“It’s hard to know how it will affect the mentality of different teams.”

The Bannsiders boss though says the news will not effect how his team approaches games.

“It doesn’t impact us as we don’t look at those teams in a different way,” he said.

“Earlier in season – Dungannon did a job on us and beat us 2-0.

“Last Saturday we had a tough game against Portadown.

“We don’t discriminate – we never think ‘it’s only such and such today.’

“We were as strong as we could possible be against the Ports and that’ll never change.”

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