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Glenavon chairman Adrian Teer fears there is a very real risk this season’s Danske Bank Premiership has already run its course due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also believes the Irish FA should be doing more to support clubs who face an uncertain financial future in the weeks and months ahead as the crisis deepens.

The Irish FA and NI Football League suspended all football in Northern Ireland on Friday with the hope of resuming action on Saturday, April 4.

But Teer, one of local football’s longest serving administrators, doesn’t share that optimism and fears “it could well be much longer than that”.

On Glenavon’s official website, he said: "Personally I do not share the IFA’s optimism in their statement of last Friday that ‘we expect games to restart on April 4.’

“I fear it could well be much longer than that. If indeed the 2019/20 season is ever to restart, who knows?”

Teer believes local football chiefs have three options to consider in the weeks and (potentially) months ahead.

End the season now after 31 games.

Fulfil the two outstanding rounds of pre-split fixtures and end the campaign after 33 games instead of the scheduled 38.

Delay the start of the 2020/21 season in order to complete the 2019/20 campaign.

“Our Premiership clubs have various options to consider,” he said. “A decisive factor would seem to be when UEFA need to be advised of our European representatives for 2020/21.

“And that’s assuming the Champions League and Europa League will get underway as currently scheduled.”

NIFL’s Premiership Management Committee (PMC) will meet on Wednesday to discuss any decisions made by UEFA who are due to discuss the affects on football across Europea on Tuesday.

It is hoped UEFA’s decisions will enable local football chiefs to construct an action plan to allow the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign.

However Teer suspects uncertainty will continue to stalk the local game as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across Europe.

And he believes the Irish FA should be putting a fiscal contingency plan in place to support clubs in the event of a lengthier period of lockdown.

He said: “I’m aware quite a few of our Premiership clubs feel very strongly that the IFA should be supporting the cash flows of clubs during this potentially difficult financial time.

“We would expect this issue to be raised at this week’s PMC meeting.”

Outlining the logistical and financial impact on local clubs, he added: “At present we have not been given any guidance or directive regarding training.

“Should the season not resume in April, that may well pose questions for some clubs in relation to contracts and wages.

“Then there is the factor of already booked annual holiday arrangements for managers, backroom staff, players and volunteers.”

As for the Irish Cup, Teer says the scheduling of the semi-finals - Coleraine v Ballymena United and Glentoran v Cliftonville 0 and final are “of course a matter for the Irish FA to resolve”.