A man familiar with domestic football either side of the Irish border, Pat Fenlon joined OTB AM to discuss how likely the prospect of an all-island league in Ireland has become.
As it stands, 20 of the 22 top-tier football clubs on the island of Ireland are in favour of exploring how an all-island league may work.
In respective letters sent to the football associations of Northern Ireland (IFA) and the Republic of Ireland (FAI), clubs expressed their interest and the subject will now ideally be brought to UEFA on their behalf.
"It would be good to explore this," remarked Pat Fenlon, a League of Ireland stalwart who is currently working as the General Manager with Linfield in Northern Ireland.
"That's all that the club shave signed up, to explore the potential in terms of finances and sporting potential how this could be taken forward.
"That is all that this is and it is not a sign-up that will guarantee you want to do anything in the long term. We've got to find out how far we can take it and whether the will is there from UEFA to make it happen."
8 November 2019; Pat Hoban of Dundalk leads his team onto the pitch before the Unite the Union Champions Cup first leg match between Linfield and Dundalk at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/SportsfileIn the League of Ireland, all 10 of the Premier Division clubs in the Republic of Ireland signed the letter which was issued to the FAI.
As Pet Fenlon was quick to admit, however, things are a little less straightforward in Northern Ireland regarding the desire to engage the topic of an all-island league.
"We've requested now of the IFA that they send that letter onto UEFA," he explained of the shared approach undertaken by clubs in both jurisdictions.
"They can send that on or they don't have to send it on, but we would hope that with 10 clubs out of 12 signing the letter they would think it is a strong enough backing to say we'll explore this.
"But there is opposition to this and the IFA have come out before on a couple of occasions and said that this can't happen and that they don't want it to happen, but for me that isn't acceptable.
"If your governing the game then you have to look at how you're developing the game and whatever potential is there to develop it. Like I said, nobody gets hurt in a discussion. Bring it forward to its conclusion and make a decision.
27 October 2009; Pat Fenlon, Bohemians manager, with the League Cup, FAI Cup and the FAI Premier Division trophy. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILEWithin Fenlon's own club Linfield, the sense of uncertainty among club members and fans is an issue that would require careful attention before any real progress could hope to be made.
"It is no secret to say that this would be a major debate the club I work for," he admitted, "that goes without saying and I think it would be a very robust debate.
"Again, it is about discussion, about moving on and it should be about what is best for Linfield.
"There may be fears among some Northern Irish clubs that they won't be as strong as some of the southern clubs, but my own personal opinion on that is that a club like Linfield is as big as any club down south, and potentially bigger.
"It would be a robust debate, but hopefully an honest and frank debate and hopefully we get to that position."
Crucially, Fenlon believes that any discussion to be had can only bring about a positive conclusion, if it makes any difference whatsoever.
"This is about trying to enhance the game and make it better," he stressed, "not anything else.
"Personalities and personal positions have got to be put aside because this is how we can develop the game on the island of Ireland. I think that should be explored to its fullest.
"This isn't just about the Irish League clubs or League of Ireland club, it is about football in general and how this could help the game in both countries.
"[But] the big thing that will convince clubs to take this forward will be the financial details. Both leagues struggle financially so I think this has always been about money and that's the big, big question here."
You can watch back as journalist Daniel McDonnell considered the question of an all-island league on OTB last night here.
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