Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said on Thursday that "a worry for me is if we do not move to summer football, then it is never going to improve" after his side's 8-0 aggregate defeat by HJK Helsinki ended their Uefa Conference League qualifying hopes. HJK arrived at Inver Park with a five-goal lead from the first leg and added a 3-0 win to complete a comfortable passage through the tie.
Coleraine are the third Irish Premiership side to exit the Conference League qualifiers, following Linfield and Glentoran, with Larne now the only Northern Irish club still able to secure a European group stage place this season. The Irish Premiership currently runs from August to early May, but Higgins said he believes a move to summer football would improve the league's European competitiveness.
Why does Higgins want summer football?
Higgins said the timing of the season is one of the factors limiting Irish Premiership clubs in Europe. He argued that a change would help teams match up better physically and tactically against opponents who are already accustomed to the demands of continental football.
"I've been a big believer in summer football," Higgins told NI after the game.
"I have to be honest, I think that to stop these kinds of results, to help our teams in Europe and we are potentially going to lose a European place, we have to change that.
"And how do you change it? You have to be more matched up and in better condition for this level of game going forward. There is a worry for me that if we don't move to summer football, then it's never ever going to improve. We need every advantage that we can get."
Higgins, who previously managed League of Ireland side Derry City, said the benefits of the summer model were evident in the Republic of Ireland. On Thursday night, Derry City's European hopes also ended after they lost to Croatia's Rijeka, while Shelbourne and Bohemians advanced to the third qualifying round.
The League of Ireland plays primarily across the summer months, with its season running from mid-February to early November. Higgins said that, in his view, the league has improved since making that change.
"I think 25 years ago the League of Ireland and the Irish League were on a level playing field and there was nothing between the two leagues," he continued.
"Since the League of Ireland has gone to summer football it's got better and nobody can argue that point. It's overtaken this league and results in Europe have proven it. I don't think that things are going to change if we don't change.
"People don't like change but what is best for the league is for me, in my opinion, that we go to summer football for a load of different reasons, European results being one of them."
Why was the scoreline so harsh on Coleraine?
Coleraine started the second leg brightly in Larne and created several half chances before Toivo Mero increased HJK's lead after 12 minutes. The Bannsiders also struck the post late on as they tried to give the home crowd something to cheer before full-time.
Higgins said the scoreline did not properly reflect the balance of the two legs, and he pointed out that even HJK had acknowledged that the tie was closer than the final result suggested.
"HJK are just elite attacking players and boys that are seasoned playing in Europe," Higgins added.
"The score definitely doesn't reflect the course of the 180 minutes, absolutely not. They've [HJK] even said that themselves.
"The score was very, very harsh on us. It was a lot closer than what it might suggest."
It has been a difficult few weeks for Coleraine after club captain Mark Coyle ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] and Aidan Wilson also suffered an injury in Helsinki. Higgins said the squad are now also set to be without goalkeeper Ryan Schofield, and he stressed that more reinforcements will be needed before the Irish Premiership season begins.
"We're having a few issues body-wise.
"Ryan Schofield has to have an operation in the next 24 hours. He had a training ground collision yesterday and that's another injury in that area of the pitch.
"We're having problems in the defensive side of the pitch in terms of injuries and stuff like that, so it's something that we need to sort out and we will."
What happens next for Coleraine?
Coleraine will now turn their attention back to domestic matters and to addressing the injury problems that have affected the squad in recent weeks. With several defensive issues and Schofield due to undergo surgery, Higgins said the club must act before the new Irish Premiership campaign starts.
The European campaign is over for Coleraine, Linfield and Glentoran, leaving Larne as Northern Ireland's remaining hope of reaching a group stage in Europe this season.
Key Facts
- Coleraine lost 8-0 on aggregate to HJK Helsinki in Uefa Conference League qualifying.
- HJK won 3-0 at Inver Park after leading by five goals from the first leg.
- Coleraine are the third Irish Premiership team out, after Linfield and Glentoran.
- Larne remain the only Northern Irish side still in contention for a European group stage place.
- Higgins said he supports summer football and believes it could improve European results.
