Q Radio Sport
The Northern Ireland Football League issued a further update on Friday night on proposals to finish the Danske Bank Premiership season.
Clubs had earlier in the week been given two options to conclude the campaign.
Either play two final rounds of matches next month to ensure all teams have faced each other three times - or opt for final placings to be predicted by an independent panel based on a mathematical model from previous results.
However, a further virtual meeting of clubs on Thursday night rejected both options and has produced a third way - what one source has described to Q Radio as Plan C.
It would entail teams completing their seven outstanding matches - the two recommended by NIFL, but also the five fixtures after 'the split' when the division divides into a top six and bottom six.
It appears NIFL is not ruling it out - but wants more time:
Extra-time - no decision yet on how to finish #DanskeBankPrem
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) June 12, 2020
Latest NIFL statement in full: pic.twitter.com/I3C20My2zD
Pending approval from the Stormont Executive, the seven sets of fixtures could take place over a period starting at the end of July and running until late August - or August into September. Some believe October is a more realistic target.
If further lockdown restrictions are lifted, the club source told us it's possible the games could be played with fans present - as long as health and safety measures including social distancing were in place.
Glens get set to leave the lockdown...
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) June 12, 2020
And it's safety first👇 @glentoran #Glentoran https://t.co/KRN4JlO0Db
Local clubs were asked to submit their views by 3pm on Friday (the original deadline was 5pm on Thursday) - ahead of the IFA informing UEFA of plans to finish the season here.
As it stands, the Northern Ireland Football League has to nominate representatives for the Champions League and Europa League by August 3rd.
However, UEFA is meeting next week and deadlines for European competition could be extended further.
The Irish League clubs have discussed sharing European prize money.
As all things in life it’s easy to criticise & ridicule without knowing facts, I wish people could see the time, energy & commitment put into finding safe & viable way forward with almost impossible constraints. We could take easy options but committed to finding the best option. https://t.co/CwmtviUFnq
— Gerard Lawlor (@GerardLawlorCFC) June 12, 2020
The IFA wants the Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup semi-finals to take place the week of July 20th with the final in early August.
Again, it hinges on the green light from Stormont which on Thursday gave the go ahead for elite athletes and professional sports teams to return to outdoor training.
And finally, the Blues have been seeing red:
Irish League champions Linfield are rejecting criticism of the club's new away kit.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) June 12, 2020
It's purple with an orange sash and some critics have drawn comparisons between the kit and the colours of a UVF flag.
The Blues have today hit back with this statement:
Image: LFC pic.twitter.com/0QozcLBSEr