Westmeath boss gives view on possible changes to All-Ireland SFC

Westmeath manager Jack Cooney believes that major change is needed in the format of the All-Ireland SFC. But he wants to take on board the views of Westmeath players before expressing a definite preference on the two proposed blueprints for change.

Last week, Cooney was among the inter-county football managers that took part in a conference call (via the Zoom platform) to discuss the proposed options to change the structure.

The GAA’s Fixtures Task Force has put forward two proposals for debate at Congress, due to be held later this month. The changes would not come into effect in 2021 but could come in from next year.

One option involves reconfiguring the existing provincial structure in order to form four conferences of eight counties. This would see one Ulster county move to Connacht and three Leinster teams move from their existing province.

The other option entails using the Allianz Football League as a feeder system for the knockout stages of the All-Ireland SFC and the Tailteann Cup (the second-tier competition which has yet to get off the ground). Under this proposal, the provincial championships would be played as separate competitions earlier in the year.

Clare manager Colm Collins and Offaly boss John Maughan are among those who have backed a championship based on league standings.

But the notion of separating the provincial championships from the All-Ireland race has met with considerable opposition in Ulster.

“I have my own preference on it but we’re taking the views of players on board at the moment. We’re taking a collective approach and we’ll respond as a group,” Cooney said this week.

“I think both of them are an improvement on the way it is at the moment. There are pros and cons to each. I think the National League is the most rewarding and fairest competition at the moment. You’re in a division because you’ve worked your way up to it, or in a lower division because of results, so there is a reason why you’re in that division.

“I think whatever changes are made to the championship should be reflective of that in some way,” continued the Westmeath manager.

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