Organised Confusion!

It could only happen in the Irish league, here we are about to enter the last phase of our domestic league programme and we have no idea what the make-up of that league will be. Irish football president Raymond Kennedy, or to give him his proper title, Mr. Blobby, has said it's all down to the weather. In other words, 'we f- - ked up but we'll blame it on god'. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the Irish cup is now two rounds behind schedule and we know who's to blame for that (I.F.A., who else), which also makes for a fixture pile-up and a major balls up.

Take ourselves, Ballymena United for instance, we have an outstanding game with Lisburn Distillery, which luckily has no bearing on the 'split', or does it, as the fixtures are seemingly pre-determined, more confusion. We were due to travel to Newry this Saturday for a league game, but that game is now cancelled as Newry must play their Irish cup replay this weekend. Our game scheduled for Easter Tuesday is either away to Portadown, if they lose their outstanding game away to Coleraine or at home to Coleraine should Portadown either win or draw that game. But if the Easter Tuesday game isn't played we'll have been inactive since playing Crusaders last Thursday until the cup semi-final on Saturday April 10, hardly ideal preparation for such a big game

Of course the game at home to Coleraine may not take place as I imagine their outstanding cup game at home to either Newry or Loughgall, would take preference and their league game with Portadown may not be played either, as already stated, due to the weather. Then again if the cup replay falls foul of the weather, a distinct possibility, who knows what 'hair brained' scheme the I.F.A. will come up with next. They say that every cloud has a silver lining and the one good thing to come out of this 'act of god' is that the summer football campaigners (better known as the flat world society), have lost their argument, as the so called summer season has started and matches are still not being played due to waterlogged pitches. No doubt Raymond and his fellow 'flat worlders' would argue that these were freak conditions and could never happen again in 30 years, d—k heads.

Spare a thought for United treasurer Noel Millar who has the unenviable task of arranging flights for United's two Scottish players, Kevin Kelbie and Gary Muir. My understanding is that if the games are called off early enough and the boys can be contacted, we're still liable for some of the fare, but knowing the I.F.A. they'll definitely wait until the last minute. I would urge the people who are running our local football to start listening to the fans, we don't want this 12 team league where you meet one team at least six times in a season (and it could be 12). Get us back to the 16 team league , where there was a bit of variety and there were a lot less matches to play and more 'windows' to play postponed games in. Let's face facts, this is a major 'cock-up', please don't let it happen again, our game is teetering on the brink of self-destruction, act now, don't wait till it's too late!