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Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Crusaders hit out at Irish League prize money as club welcomes Kieran Lucid talks

Crusaders have launched a stinging attack on the current prize money on offer in the Danske Bank Premiership.

The North Belfast club released a statement on Friday, the day after it attended a meeting in Dundalk to look at the ambitious proposals for a new All-Island League.

Included in Kerry businessman's Kieran Lucid's plans is the introduction of a new 14-team top tier and two 10-team regionalised leagues combining clubs from both the NIFL and FAI leagues.

It has been reported that the winners of a new All-Island League would get €800,000, based on revenue projections of between €6 million and €10 million per annum.

While financial packages for the proposed new league were discussed, front man Lucid stopped short of offering cast iron guarantees on a definitive figure.

But he has not rowed back on his initial belief that a league capable of generating overall annual revenue of €10 million can be established.

Crusaders had two representatives attend Thursday night's meeting, Grants and Funding Director Mark Langhammer and Treasurer Tommy Whiteside.

In Friday's statement, the Shore Road club said: "A fact based ambitious proposal was presented by Kieran Lucid and his colleagues to revive domestic Irish Football.

"The financial business case for the new proposal is compelling (from) day one, however the potential for growth demands the proposal is given due consideration.

"Crusaders FC will host a meeting of members, supporters, volunteers, players, management and staff to discuss the proposal. Ultimately as a fan owned club our members will decide how our club will proceed.

"What is clear is that our domestic game needs reform if it is to further professionalise and flourish.

"Participation funds for the Irish League champions have reduced year on year in the past decade, down from £50k in 2012 to £22k in the current season."

Crusaders also argued that the team that finishes bottom of Sottish League Two this season will earn more than the Danske Bank Premiership champions.

Last year the bottom club in the SPFL earned £45,000 in prizemoney.

The statement said "the stark reality that the bottom placed club in the Scottish Football League (yes, the bottom placed club in the Scottish League 2) will earn more in participation money than the Irish League Champions in 2019/20 is not only incredulous but a totally unacceptable FACT."

Crusaders believe Lucid's proposals deserve "thorough scrutiny and open informed debate".

"It is beholden on those who would seek to close down debate or administratively frustrate the proposals to come up with better alternatives. We all know the status quo will not wash," the statement added.

"Either way local football clubs owe a great deal of thanks to Kieran for his efforts in producing a credible alternative."

In response, the NI Football League all 12 Premiership clubs in Northern Ireland voted unanimously for the proposed distribution model for total prize fund.

NIFL said in a statement: "At their recent meeting the Premiership Management Committee (made up of all 12 NIFL Premiership clubs) unanimously voted on the proposed distribution model for the total prize-fund be distributed in a fair manner, reflecting the increased funding provided by UEFA for European competition by capping the amount due to those clubs who have successfully qualified for UEFA competitions to provide an enhanced distribution to those clubs who haven’t qualify for Europe.

"The growth of the NI Football League has been reflected in an incrementally increased total prize-fund since the inception in 2013.

"The fair distribution models implemented by the Premiership Management Committee have in turn fostered a highly competitive and balanced league which has seen in substantial increase in attendances, awareness and television coverage."

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