Poll: Eircom League players want mid-season break

The vast majority of eircom League players want a mid-season break rather than a return to winter football, a survey has revealed.

The Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland canvassed 350 eircom league players and of the 268 replies received, 65% said they were against a return to a winter season while in a separate question 92% said they would prefer a mid-season break.

The PFAI says that while the change to summer football has raised standards in both playing and training facilities, not being able to take a summer break with families is a major problem for the league’s footballers.

The PFAI said it would be presenting the survey results to the League and would request a two-week break beginning next season.

In the survey, 87% favoured two weeks over a one-week rest period while 73% said they would refer the break to happen in July.

In another question, the survey asked only part-time players whether they would be prepared to take a mid-season break unpaid, with 46% saying they would and 54% against.