Mick McDermott insists Glentoran’s decision to seek arbitration over their high-profile expulsion from the Irish Cup isn’t aimed at irritating other clubs.
The Oval boss also dismissed criticism of the move and says the Big Two giants are doing what’s right for their players and fans by following due “process”.
“I know there has been criticism in some of the press and social media that this is the Glens doing this and the Glens doing that,” he said.
Read more: IFA confirms Glentoran's arbitration move following Irish Cup expulsion
“No, this is the process. This is not a club-to-club battle. This is not us against Newry or us against Ballymena. It’s not us against Crusaders.
“This is us moving through a legal process with the IFA to find a fair outcome and that’s what we’re doing.”
The Glens requested that the matter be sent to arbitration after the Irish FA dismissed the Mersey Street club’s appeal a week ago.
The Ovalmen were thrown out of the Irish Cup after it was found that Joe Crowe was ineligible to feature in a 1-0 quarter-final win over Newry City.
The arbitration process means next week’s scheduled semi-final between Ballymena United and Newry, who were reinstated, has been put on hold.
Crusaders, who beat derby rivals Cliftonville in last week’s other semi-final, await the winners of the outstanding last-four tie in the showpiece which is scheduled for Saturday, May 7.
Speaking on Glentoran’s YouTube channel, McDermott confirmed that the Mersey Street club was going through a “UK based arbitration" process.
He said: “This is a process. It’s not a Glentoran process. It is an IFA articles of association process. That’s the process and it’s the only avenue if we want to appeal.
“It’s the right of any club like us to seek arbitration, to see if we can have a different verdict, so we are doing that and we’ll continue to do that.
“The articles of association are there to protect all clubs and it’s important clubs recognise those articles are written to protect every club because one day you might need it.
“Club A, B or C might need the arbitration process so we are moving through that and we’ll see what the outcome is.”
McDermott pointed out that Cliftonville used the arbitration process to free up defenders Garry Breen and Jamie Harney from suspension prior to the 2020 Irish Cup semi-finals.
The last-four ties in 2020 were played in July after the league season was curtailed in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cliftonville successfully argued that both players would have already served their bans had the season not been prematurely halted.
McDermott said: “I know there has been some criticism in the media and some radio outlets, but I’d like to remind people that Cliftonville went through the same process in 2020.
“That was to allow two players - Garry Breen and Jamie Harney - to play in the Irish Cup semi-final against Glentoran.
“They were suspended and Cliftonville lost the appeal to the IFA. They then went to arbitration and the arbitrator found that Garry Breen and Jamie Harney could play.
“That decision was made a week before the semi-final against Glentoran. We didn’t complain and we didn’t shout and roar because it is the legal process.
“It was Cliftonville’s legal right and rightly so. They got a favourable outcome and that’s the way it works. We didn’t scream or shout. We accepted the process and accepted the verdict.
“That’s why the process is there, to be fair to everyone.”
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