Ruaidhri Higgins gives opinion on Friday night debate after Irish League manager called for NIFL 'to step in'
Ruaidhri Higgins understands the frustrations voiced by managers of part-time clubs about playing full-time opposition on a Friday night – but insists it makes more financial sense for Coleraine to host matches in that slot.
Glenavon boss Michael O’Connor, who will take his Lurgan Blues side to The Showgrounds this Friday evening, expressed his opinion that the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) need to “step in and have a look” at the situation.
This will mark only Coleraine’s third home league match on a Friday – they hosted Glentoran in September and Bangor on December 12.
Premiership leaders Larne are staging their eighth Friday night match against Bangor – five were against part-time teams – while Glentoran have hosted four (two against part-timers) and Linfield’s sole Friday game at Windsor Park so far this term came against Larne earlier this month.
Debate has surrounded the scheduling of Irish League matches between full-time and part-time opponents with the former often pointing towards increased attendance figures and finances.
The topic will continue to be discussed throughout the remainder of this season with Ballymena United travelling to Coleraine on Friday, February 20 and Carrick Rangers visit Larne the same evening.
Dungannon Swifts are scheduled to face Larne at Inver Park on Friday, March 13 and a full slate of fixtures will take place on March 20.
While Higgins sympathises with the arguments of those at part-time clubs, the Coleraine chief believes there’s more positives than negatives to playing matches on a Friday.
"I can understand where the likes of Michael are coming from, I genuinely can, but from speaking to people within the club, financially it's better for the club,” he said. “There are positives and negatives to it.
"Financially for the club, it seems to be better. You look at the amount of people who play on a Saturday who are missing out on coming on a Saturday but can come on a Friday night.
"There are so many factors on why Friday nights are better.
"From a negative point of view, we have a session less to prepare, so you're losing that advantage. Instead of training four or five times, you're training three or four times, so you're missing out on a session.
"There's pros and cons, but I do get Michael's frustrations and I think Lee Feeney (Bangor manager) might have said something similar coming here on a Friday night.
"Not everyone is going to agree with my opinion, which is natural, but I have to be honest, there's many reasons why it's a good thing and one or two why it's not."