THE Fermanagh CCC have decided to put forward two divergent options for clubs in the county after initial plans to play an 18-round league programme shipped a significant degree of criticism.

Last week, the Fermanagh CCC issued a press release saying that “clubs can begin to prepare for an 18-game Senior Football League campaign that will commence on Friday 21st May 2021.”

However, a number of high-profile players within the county, including Declan McCusker, Martin O’Brien and James McMahon, expressed their annoyance on social media at the prospect of playing 18 matches.

Fermanagh and Ederney star Declan McCusker, for instance, tweeted that the “league normally starts at the beginning of April and it’s a struggle to get 18 games played, with league finals as late as Dec 12th. What planet are decision makers on to think that it makes sense starting the league seven weeks later and still play 18 games in the current climate?”

It seems like the Fermanagh CCC has heard their grievances loud and clear, and on Tuesday evening they released a document for club asking for feedback on two separate formats for the season ahead – one being the full 18-round programme, and the other a 13-week programme which would be preceded by a five-round preparatory competition.

The clubs have until tomorrow (Friday) to state their preferred option, and the CCC also reiterated its commitment to Fermanagh GAA members.

“Players, along with all our stakeholders, deserve and require fixture certainty” and its desire to meet “the welfare needs of all players, club and county, by recognising that there are club player needs and county player needs, and they are both equally important within the amateur ethos of the GAA.”