DONEGAL boss Jim McGuinness backs the new SFC format that was passed at GAA congress on Saturday.
Delegates gave their overwhelming support for the revamp which will ditch the current round-robin All-Ireland group stages, and revive the back door system.
The new format will come into effect in 2026 and 16 teams will still play for Sam Maguire, but the eight provincial finalists will be drawn to play against the next seven highest NFL finishers and 2025 Tailteann Cup champions.
The winners of those games will advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, with the losers playing off against each other in knockout games for the other four quarter-final spots.
Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney lashed the structure change after Armagh’s draw against Mayo on Saturday night, and insists the current format is fine.
But McGuinness says three teams qualifying from four-team groups does not provide enough jeopardy, and hopes the new structure will space out the calendar and ease the financial drain on fans.
He said: “I think that’s good, I think it’ll eliminate dead rubbers. It’ll put a premium on teams trying to get to the Provincial Finals.
“It’ll make the Provincial Championships more competitive as a result, I would suggest. A game less as well, which is good.
“They’re talking about going back into August with the Championship anyway. So, maybe there’s an opportunity. If they do it right, I think there might be an opportunity for two weeks between every game and without doing much at all.
“I think that would be very welcome based on the intensity levels that are required now. It’ll probably improve games as well and help families that are trying to get to the games which have been lost in the ether.
“Also, the Ulster championship now is played over three weeks and expecting families to, if you get to a final, cough up three times in the one paycheck – I don’t think that’s right as well. I don’t think that’s in line with our ethos.”
