Managers back league format

Some of the country's leading football managers have weighed in behind GAA President Sean Kelly in backing the current format of the Allianz National League.

The new football league season begins this Saturday and will run for 13 weeks until the April 23 finals.

The current format of running the league off in a three-month bloc came to fruition in 2002 when the GAA reacted to calls for the competition to be played off in a calendar year, rather than the previous scheduling of three games before Christmas, and three after.

GAA President Kelly has ruled out a return to a two-phased league system, saying: "I think we've got things right and switching to one calendar year was key.

"Some people have been saying we should revert to having games before Christmas, but I believe that would be a disastrous step. If you had some of the games in October and November, some counties would feel 'out of competition' by the time the new year games came around."

Dublin manager Paul Caffrey added: "The format currently used is the way forward.

"I don't think players or managers enjoyed togging out in October or November before rejigging everything in February."

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte, who guided the Red Hands to league and championship glory in his first season in charge in 2003, said: "The players enjoy the fact that they are playing games on a regular basis.

"It means that they are preparing for games that are not away in the distant future, but are just days away."