Mark Haughey sees no reason why part-time clubs can't continue muscling their way into the title race.
Cliftonville ran Linfield to the wire last season, finishing just one point behind the Blues following a pulsating battle that went down to the final day. The year before it was Coleraine who finished runners-up to the Blues.
One look at the betting odds shows Big Two pair Linfield and Glentoran at the head of the outright market, with Cliftonville third favourites followed by Larne and then Crusaders.
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Haughey - who spent eight years at Linfield before the club went professional - believes the top flight is as competitive as it's been for a while.
And the 31-year-old defender doesn't buy into the opinion that it will only be the full-time clubs fighting it out for major honours this season.
"It is such a competitive league now, which is great to see," Haughey said.
"I sort of look at it now, compared to when I first came into the league. I started playing about 15 or 16 years ago, and my first season I recall there being 16 teams, and then it changed to 12.
"With the teams now going full-time, you can see the massive difference and increase in the levels of professionalism. And that s being replicated around every club.
"More teams are going professional and the standard is on the up every year. Clubs are now able to attract better players because of the full-time approach.
"You see clubs bringing in players from England, Scotland and all over Europe. It will only improve the standard of the league and it is brilliant to see."
Haughey believes the emergence of professional football in the Irish League has helped raise standards throughout every club, not just those with a full-time set-up.
And he won't be surprised if a part-time club throws down a serious challenge for the Gibson Cup in 2022/23.
"The part-time clubs have to rise to the challenge. You only have to look at Cliftonville who finished second last season," he added.
"They maybe train an extra night during the week, compared to other part-time clubs. That's what we did at Linfield before the Blues went professional.
"Coleraine were always competing beforehand and going for the title, and Cliftonville did it last season. But there is no reason why the part-time clubs can't raise their game and muscle their way into the title race.
"Yes, you might be at a disadvantage if players are out working all day before an evening match during the week. The full-time guys have time to relax and prepare right for it.
"But I think players are used to working during the day. It is certainly something I have always been used to, working during the day and training or playing at night.
"So it makes no difference for me, it is just about the team as a whole raising its standards."
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