Irish Premiership: ‘Common sense’ to start league on time says Larne boss Haveron

Larne vice secretary Neil Clarke also believes the right decision has been made as the Inver Reds prepare for the start of the domestic season as well as balancing European football qualifiers.

The side drew 0-0 with FC Iberia 1999 at Inver Park in their Europa League third qualifying round match to set up a winner-takes-all second leg In Georgia next week, but Clarke said that the Irish Premiership is “the most important thing” for the side.

“We all want the league to start, and we want to get back to what we’re doing on weekends and get the whole atmosphere and everything going again,” Clarke told BBC Sport NI.

“I am delighted that it appears everything is on track and ready to go for this weekend. It’s been very hard.

“The league is the most important thing for us. Europe is brilliant, it’s really great and it’s a great experience for everybody, but we need the league to get back into Europe next year.”

It has been a far from quiet few weeks as the campaign has approached with the threat of the season being postponed, fears of Larne’s European match being delayed and NIFL chief executive Gerard Lawlor confirming there will be a vote around a potential switch to summer football.

Clarke added that the defending Premiership champions would be in favour of a move from the traditional August to May campaign to the same format as the Premier Division in the Republic of Ireland, a mid-February to early November season.

“As a club, we’re very supportive of it and I think summer football is a great idea,” he continued.

“I think we’re prepared to try probably anything but, for me, summer football’s not just about preparing for Europe. I think it’s obviously a bit more attractive for fans.

“I think everything’s on the table. You have to look at anything that comes forward.”