It appears some Irish Premiership clubs have not learnt their lesson from Covid times.
Clubs were prepared to ‘cut each other’s throats’ over final League placings and European money.
The whole unsavoury period nearly contributed to irreparable damage.
It was totally unedifying and some people forgot the old adage — we are stronger united and weaker divided.
Roll on a few years and it still seems the some our Premiership clubs are being a little short-sighted.
The Belfast Telegraph revealed on Thursday morning that 11 Premiership clubs, not including Larne, would receive a share of just over £2m from Uefa’s solidarity fund.
This has been increased from previous years due to Northern Ireland’s improved co-efficient, which was down to Larne doing so well in Europe this season and reaching the group stages of the Conference League.
With Larne receiving around £3m from their exploits in Europe, they are not considered for solidarity funding.
But 11 of our top flight clubs should each receive around £187,000.
Now, there is the option to share the money with Championship clubs and this would need to be agreed by Premiership clubs. As I understand it, there is no agreement and Premiership clubs want to keep all the money for themselves.
This does not sit easy with me. And I must agree with Lord Tom Elliott, the Chairman of Ballinamallard United that Championship clubs should receive a small share of the Uefa pie.
Championship clubs have provided so many of our Premiership team with top talent. They have nurtured, trained and guided players before they move on in their careers.
Joel Cooper is the obvious example having come through with Ballyclare Comrades before moving onto Glenavon and then Linfield.
But there are so many players who cut their teeth in the Championship, learnt their trade effectively, before coming in primed and ready to play in the Premiership.
The majority of teams in the Championship have also experienced top flight football before and it should be a reminder to the Premiership clubs that they could easily find themselves in the ‘second division’ and wouldn’t they want a helping hand financially from those in the League above them?
The Northern Ireland football family only operates as a cohesive unit if everyone is working together.
Therefore, I would propose that there is criteria for Championship clubs being offered the money.
If a Championship club receives a licence for being able to play Premiership football and it shows their ambition, they should receive some of the Uefa solidarity fund pie.
In my mind, it’s only fair.
Of course, there has to be a limit and I wouldn’t go down to the Premier Intermediate League.
But Championship clubs deserve to be helped by their bigger cousins in the Premiership. It is morally correct.
With some of the high wages going round the Premiership at the minute I would argue this money is needed more by Championship sides than Prem teams.
Competition is crucial in any sport and this money could help Championship clubs stay on a financial footing.
Lessons must be learnt and remember — sharing is caring.
Brave Isaac Price will flourish as West Brom’s latest NI star
Isaac Price has shown tremendous bravery and courage in his career.
The Northern Ireland international opted to leave Everton for a new adventure in Belgium with Standard Liege when he realized his opportunity at Goodison Park may have been limited.
He could easily have dropped down the divisions in England or continued to play under-age football at Everton.
But instead, Isaac moved to the top League in Belgium and challenged himself in a new country with a different football philosophy.
He didn’t wilt or blend into the background — but instead worked hard to improve his game at Standard Liege.
He obviously impressed as Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill was always keen to name him in his starting XI, and he rewarded his manager with a fantastic hat trick against Bulgaria in the last Nations League campaign.
Now he’s joined West Brom in the Championship and I feel Isaac will flourish there. The Baggies are just outside the Play-Offs at the minute but with a big push over the next few months, Isaac could be playing Premier League football next season.
There is a terrific Northern Ireland connection and history at West Brom — with Jonny Evans, Chris Baird, Gareth McAuley and Chris Brunt all having represented the club in recent times.
The move to West Brom is just reward for Isaac.
Glentoran’s keepers past and present prove their worth
What a week it’s been for former and current Glentoran goalkeepers.
Daniel Gyollai, who has really impressed and been a big presence for Glentoran this season, has signed a new contract at The Oval while his deputy, Andrew Mills was the hero for the Glens in the shoot-out against Larne in the County Antrim Shield Final.
I wasn’t at all surprised Declan Devine opted to go with Andrew in goal for the Shield Final. Declan knows he has two tremendous goalkeepers and with Andrew having played in the previous rounds of the competition, he had every faith Andrew would play well at Seaview for him.
I thought Andrew made a fantastic save from Larne’s Joe Thomson in normal time and then of course he saved Levi Ives’ penalty in the shoot-out. I wouldn’t say Levi missed it as I felt Andrew showed quick reflexes to get down and save it.
Then in Scotland, you had 18 year-old former Glentoran academy keeper Mason Munn making his debut for Rangers last weekend in the Scottish Cup clash with Fraserburgh.
He looked totally assured, didn’t seem overawed at all by the experience and was incredibly humble in his post-match interview afterwards.
Mason was then given the opportunity to be on the bench for Rangers’ clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday night in the Europa League.
Quite an experience for the Donaghadee lad.