Storm Darragh: NIFL boss Gerard Lawlor apologises after games called off at short notice

Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL] chief executive Gerard Lawlor has apologised after Saturday’s Irish Premiership matches were called off at short notice.

Despite an amber weather warning for high winds having been issued on Friday, all six fixtures were postponed on Saturday.

Linfield’s game against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park and Coleraine’s home encounter with Portadown were postponed just 70 minutes before the scheduled kick-off, while the match between Cliftonville and Carrick Rangers at Solitude was postponed just 15 minutes earlier.

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said supporters who had already travelled to the venues were left in an “appalling situation”.

On Saturday, NIFL said the majority of clubs wanted to wait until Saturday before making a decision.

But posting on X on Sunday, Lawlor admitted the league’s management of the situation “backfired”.

Lawlor said: “On reflection we made decisions over the past 48hrs with the best intentions, we considered a number of factors, listened to many differing opinions from our member clubs, we tried to manage it & in hindsight it backfired.

“At the end of the day the buck stops with me, I take ownership, I apologise to anyone put out & have corresponded with our members today.

“We will put measures in place for the future to prevent a reoccurrence.”

NIFL is yet to confirm rearranged fixture details for the six games.