Crusaders have agreed to postpone tomorrow’s scheduled Sports Direct Premiership game against Larne to assist the Inver Park club’s hopes of progressing in Europe.
Larne beat Ballkani of Kosovo after extra time and penalties at Inver Park on Thursday night to secure a Europe Conference League play-off berth.
The reigning league Champions will face Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar in the play-offs with the lure of becoming the first Irish League club to reach the group stages of European football.
The first leg will be played on Thursday evening (7pm) at the Estadio Algarvia in Portugal, with the return leg at Inver Park the following Thursday (8pm).
The Invermen have already assured themselves of a million euros in prize money already and that figure could be tripled, depending on results and performances.
Crusaders agreed weeks ago to shift the home game against Larne this weekend to accommodate Tiernan Lynch’s team’s participation in Europe, moving the fixture to Sunday afternoon.
An approach was made to the Crues yesterday, the North Belfast club agreed to a postponement and the fixture will be replayed later in the season, with a date yet to be determined.
Larne beat Ballkani without the services of star striker Lee Bonis, who secured a move to Dutch club Ado Den Haag this week.
Crusaders manager Declan Caddell spoke about how Larne will cope without the goal-getter from Portadown, believing it will not derail Lynch’s style of play.
“I don’t think so”, said Caddell, who won his first game in charge of Crusaders at The Oval last weekend.
“Larne have their way of playing and they are always going to stick to that way.
“They are always going to stick with the same formation, same habits, same passing play, they’ll do exactly the same.
“I think we’ll probably see Paul O’Neill come in. Paul’s probably been a wee bit frustrated not getting the same game time he would have liked over the past couple of years.
“That’s understandable when you have Andy Ryan and Lee Bonis up top.
“They’ve had the best strike force in the league over the last couple of years, so now he finds himself with an opportunity and I’m sure he’ll take it.”
Larne have yet to kick a ball in the new Premiership season as the East Antrim club goes for a remarkable three-in-a-row under Lynch.
Their opening game against Loughgall last weekend was postponed as the Villagers were loath to switch the game to a Sunday.
As things stand, their first stab at successfully defending their title will come next Saturday afternoon at home to Portadown.
It remains to be seen if Lynch brings in another striker to Inver Park following Bonis’ departure.
The fact that Larne made a bid for Glentoran striker David Fisher earlier in the summer, in preparation for Bonis’ possible exit, suggests the Larne boss will make a move in the market.
He may return to East Belfast to test Glentoran’s resolve over Fisher, while Loughgall’s Benji Magee may also come into the frame.
The 22-year-old caught the eye on Loughgall’s return to the top flight, scoring sixteen goals in the league alone.
But the Villagers have made it known that if anyone wants their player, they will have to pay and have put a figure of £100,000 on Magee.
Last month, O’Neill was the subject of interest from several clubs, with Cliftonville, Glentoran and Crusaders enquiring about the Glengormley man.
But the player himself was insistent that he had two years left on his contract at Larne, was happy at Inver Park and wanted to fight for his place in the team.
