Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins expressed deep concerns about the future of the Irish League following his team's 8-0 aggregate defeat to HJK Helsinki, which ended their UEFA Conference League hopes. After a 3-0 loss at Inver Park, Higgins emphasized the need for change, stating, "a worry for me is if we do not move to summer football, then it is never going to improve."

Coleraine's exit marks them as the third Irish Premiership team to be eliminated from the Conference League qualifiers, joining Linfield and Glentoran. Only Larne remains in contention for a European group stage spot this season.

Higgins highlighted the traditional August to early May schedule of the Irish Premiership, arguing that a transition to summer football could significantly enhance the league's competitiveness. He stated, "I've been a big believer in summer football. To stop these kinds of results, we have to change that."

Reflecting on his previous experience managing Derry City in the League of Ireland, Higgins noted that the league has improved since adopting a summer schedule. He remarked, "25 years ago the League of Ireland and the Irish League were on a level playing field... Since the League of Ireland has gone to summer football, it's got better."

Higgins concluded by stressing the importance of adapting to improve European performance, asserting, "People don't like change but what is best for the league... is for me, in my opinion, that we go to summer football for a load of different reasons, European results being one of them."