NEIL McMANUS warned Antrim that boycotting their Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh “wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do.”
And the former Saffron hurler believes the priority should be to “facilitate as many fans as possible” amid a row over whether Corrigan Park will be used.
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The Antrim footballers threatened that they will not play the game if the Belfast venue is not used for their Ulster quarter-final against the All-Ireland champions in April.
Speaking to the BBC, Patrick McBride said: “As everyone knows, we’re drawn out at home to play an Ulster Championship game and we’re being told as usual that we’re going somewhere else.
“The frustration is we want to play a home match and we’re saying if it’s not there, we’ll probably not play it.
“We want to play on our own pitch when we have a home game. It sounds so simple – you have a home match, you play at home.
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“We said we sacrifice too much to lie down. If it’s not going to be where it’s meant to be, then we’ll not play it.
“It’s one we all agreed with. It wasn’t deliberated on, it wasn’t debated, we just said this is what we’re standing for and we’re sticking with it.”
Antrim are the home team for the tie, but Ulster GAA said that healthy and safety concerns could prevent Corrigan Park from being used as the venue.
McManus spoke about the controversy during Allianz League Sunday, and argued that boycotting the game would not be the way forward.
He said: “I love Corrigan Park. I really enjoy playing there.
“Whenever we made it our home as a county ground, it really stood to us and our performances there have been really good.
“I can fully understand why the Antrim county board, the Antrim football management, the Antrim football players all want to play it there.
“But if it is going to cost you home venue for some games next year if we don’t abide by the rules, it wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do.”
Asked if he thought it was fair for Corrigan Park to be snubbed due to it not being big enough, McManus insisted the priority should be to get as many fans in as possible.
He added: “We want as many people as we can to be able to watch the games.
“It is only fair that both Armagh and Antrim fans get to watch that game but it is how do we accommodate them at a ground that can only fit 3,000 to 3,500 fans maybe?
“How would you pick how many fans get to go?
“And how many from Antrim and how many from Armagh?
“It would be a very tough situation for both counties to be in and I think whatever the outcome is it does have to be done to facilitate as may fans as possible.”
