Blues consider Setanta withdrawal

David Jeffrey has voiced concern over the cup competition

Linfield may quit the Setanta Sports Cup with plans to play games on a Saturday their main area of concern.

Windsor Park chairman Jim Kerr told the Belfast Telegraph that Linfield are "seriously considering" pulling out of the All-Ireland competition.

He said the club's board has "examined increasing areas of concern" and added that Saturday games would be a "further intrusion into our domestic season".

This year's finalists Glentoran have also voiced reservations over the cup.

A proposal to restructure the competition next season would see three groups of three and games held on weekends from September to April.

"Going forward we have reservations about how the competition is planned for next year," said Glens chairman Aubry Ralph.

"The (Setanta) committee want three groups of three - people in the north on the committee are not terribly in favour of that and our own managers' association is not in favour of it but it seems they want to push ahead with it.

"I think it's going to be problematical having Saturday games in an already crowded season.

There is a lot of money for the finalists but I feel organisers must look at what the other clubs receive. Linfield chairman Jim Kerr

"There appears to be a move to slant the competition to how our southern people want it but it takes two to Tango."

The east Belfast side has expressed anger that the decider against Cork City on 1 November will be played at the Eircom League club's Turner's Cross venue.

The financial benefits have also been questioned by Linfield.

Kerr added: "There is a lot of money for the finalists but I feel organisers must look at what the other clubs receive."

Linfield won the competition in its inaugural year but failed to progress from the group stage this season.

Blues boss David Jeffrey questioned the future of the Setanta Cup last month.