Concerned Sproule gives his players Christmas off

DERGVIEW boss Ivan Sproule has given his players the full Christmas week off despite a fresh drive towards the Championship kicking-off on January 2.

It seems that the Irish Football Association (IFA) has had a change of heart and has written to the Northern Ireland Executive and Sport NI requesting the Irish Cup and Championship league is given ‘elite’ status.

Up to now and despite much lobbying, the Championship has been refused elite status that has been granted to allow Premiership clubs to continue playing competitive games despite restrictions.

Coming days after the Sadler’s Peaky Blinders Irish Cup draw eyebrows have been raised that the IFA has done a complete U-turn but whatever the reasons Sproule has taken the decision to give his players some time out for their mental wellbeing as much as anything else.

Sproule said, ““I’m not thinking about me or the club, I’m thinking about the human aspect of it. My players need to know one way or other if the league is going to go ahead, because it’s just not fair.”

FULL STORY IN TODAY’S ULSTER HERALD