Kevin McHugh has labelled the recent decision to push the League of Ireland under-14 campaign back from March to July as “out of order”.
The legendary Finn Harps striker is now Head of the Finn Harps academy but also manages the under-14 team.
The restructure, he believes, would hinder his sides development as the FAI voted last Monday to shorten the season to accommodate the week-long Kennedy Cup competition.
McHugh said: “In short, the FAI board cancelled 6 months of the U14 league for over 400 2008s nationally to facilitate a 4-day tournament in Limerick, in truth a competition that our 08s here and majority of 08s around the country have no desire to play in anyway.
“To cancel a hugely successful U14 league where every LOI club was super compliant on Covid measures in 2021 and give the green light for a tournament that requires 100s of kids to live in dorms for 5 days in Limerick was just crazy.
“I believe the recent sentiments expressed by Shamrock Rovers on this matter is reflective of the thoughts and views of the majority of people involved at LOI clubs. The unnecessary chaos this decision has caused each of these 16x families and clubs here in Donegal and nationally, is completely out of order and without a doubt, a step backwards”
“I would have loved for the FAI board members or anyone who thinks this decision is correct, to be in the room last week with the 400+ 2008 born players and parents and explain the rationale behind a decision that has robbed their child of 6 months of their development ”
The decision made by the FAI hasn’t been popular with clubs, staff, players and parents. Finn Harps won both the under-14 and under-15 League of Ireland National finals last month and the players are eager to get back playing for The Harps.
“We put it to the parents last week, what do they and their child want from this situation, and I have to say the response we got from the parents was very positive for the upcoming season. They all want to represent Finn Harps FC in 2022 and asked if we can deliver something that will come very close to a full season for their boys.
The clubs of Donegal that represent Finn Harps at different levels
“Thankfully, we have a brilliant bunch of coaches and team of staff in behind the scenes that will make sure these boys do not miss out on anything. Personally, I always look for a positive in a negative situation, and thankfully our club and the other LOI clubs are on the same wavelength.
“The reality is, LOI Academies are being charged to produce our future LOI and international players and have been let down by the FAI on this matter, each LOI club deserves to be in control of its own destiny, regardless of the various opinions floating about.
“At the end of the day, it’s a parental decision to join the likes of the Finn Harps Academy, Galway United, or Cork City Academy and this always will be a parental decision no matter what and people need to accept this.
Having won the under-14s League of Ireland National final last month on penalties against Wexford, McHugh’s Finn Harps side have shown that the current set-up is successful for them and he believes his club, and clubs nationally have the players best interests at heart and the current structure is the best for the players development.
“I am on a steering group with all the Heads of Academies around the country and these are some of the most progressive and driven people I have come across, we are all in the same boat.
“We want to drive standards up in each area we represent. We aren’t interested in politics or past agendas, we are only interested in player welfare and their ongoing development.
“Our (Finn Harps) current underage structure that runs from our successful Academy squads right the way up to our U21s, leaves us well placed to deal with this scenario and allows us to put the players development front and centre of everything we do. Our structures are always evolving and I have to commend the current board of directors we have here at the club.
“After a lengthy review process by the Academy staff this year, the board have recognised the importance of underage in the clubs future and have recently approved a comprehensive underage document that will help us map out a better pathway for our young players going into the seasons 2022-2025 and beyond.“
