Irish Premiership: Mathematical formula set to decide league positions as season ends
NIFL has decided that a mathematical formula will be used by an independent panel to finalise Premiership positions, it is understood.
It comes after the 12 clubs failed to reach a unanimous decision on how to resume the campaign.
The NIFL board met on Monday night to decide whether to end the season using a mathematical formula or use the positions as they stand after 31 games.
Leaders Linfield are four points clear of Coleraine in the standings.
It is still unclear whether the winners will be declared champions but it is likely they will be awarded the league title.
Institute sit in the relegation position while Portadown are in the promotion spot at the top of the Championship.
There will be no more football played in the 2019/20 season and it is believed a mathematical formula will also be used to finalise positions in Championship and Premier Intermediate League.
The Irish Cup is still expected to resume at the end of July, with the winners being awarded the third and final European berth.
It is believed that all four semi-finalists – Ballymena United, Cliftonville, Coleraine and Glentoran – have agreed to play provided it is safe to do so.
The Irish FA, which runs the cup competition, has agreed to provide Covid-19 testing for the clubs.
End of a long process
The Premiership clubs had been trying to agree the possible distribution of around one million pounds of European money provided by Uefa, but it is believed those last ditch talks broke down on Monday morning.
The decision will not come as a shock to many, after weeks of talks between the Irish Football Association, NIFL and the clubs appeared to present as many questions as answers.
The clubs were initially presented with two options, either conclude the league with the mathematical formula or play two more rounds of fixtures, however they refused to vote on the proposals.
With the two-game proposal deemed a non-starter by a number of clubs, it appeared that the only options were to curtail the season or, improbably, play the remaining seven rounds of fixtures.
Last week Crusaders tabled a suggestion that would see the league ended now with the current positions being declared as the final standings, and the European money being split among all clubs on a sliding scale, however further discussion over the weekend did not conclude with a unanimous agreement.
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