Gerard Lawlor has accused Stormont of “slapping football in the face” after Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey shelved a long-awaited £36m funding package for local stadia.
The straight talking NIFL chief executive also claimed local clubs were effectively blindsided by the timing of Monday’s surprise announcement in the Assembly chamber.
And he has suggested local football chiefs are prepared to bypass Stormont and take their case for essential finance to both the British and Irish governments.
“None of us have any confidence left in the current process and we have very little faith left in what we are being told,” said Lawlor.
“If we have to look at other avenues and put our case to the British and Irish governments, we will do so. That is an option we will look at.”
Hargey said she was no longer able to progress the Sub Regional stadia package, which has been in the pipeline for 11 years, following the recent collapse of the power-sharing Executive.
But the minister’s announcement was met by a wave of frustration - and some anger - from managers, fans and officials of the 43 Premiership, Championship, Premier Intermediate and Women’s Premiership clubs.
Larne owner Kenny Bruce described the latest delay in funding as a “devastation to communities” while Newry City boss Darren Mullen branded the decision “shameful”.
Lawlor, a former chairman of Cliftonville football club in North Belfast, said: “It’s about respect and the manner in which this announcement was made is hugely disappointing.
“We have been trying to engage with the Executive for a long period of time and a working group actually met last week, yet there was no heads-up on this decision. Nothing.
“Am I surprised by the decision? No, because we have had so many false dawns in the past, but I was brought up to believe that ‘it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it’.
“That’s why the manner of this decision and how it was made public is deeply frustrating. It feels like a slap in the face. I am genuinely saddened by this development.”
Lawlor believes the positive work football has done to help “break down barriers” in a divided society is hugely underestimated and undervalued by Northern Ireland’s political parties.
He also suspects election candidates for this year’s Assembly Election, scheduled for May, will face a barrage of “difficult questions” from Irish League fans on the doorsteps.
“Football builds so many bridges, we break down barriers and we’re doing all that through volunteers and people who are dedicating their lives to their local clubs,” he said.
“I look at the positive impact football has on the economy and also the community programmes that are operating week in, week out.
“All our clubs are playing their part in terms of running social programmes, taking children off the street and promoting mental health and wellbeing.
“In so many ways, football is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in society and actually doing the job of government departments and it doesn’t get the recognition or support it deserves.
“In recent years both DUP and Sinn Fein ministers have been at the helm and overseeing this, so this isn’t an orange or green issue.
“We see politicians a lot at election time and not a lot at other times, but they will have to face our supporters on the doorsteps before the next election.
“Those MLAs are going to be asked some very difficult questions by Irish League supporters - who deserve answers - in the weeks ahead.”
With attendances growing, particularly in the Danske Bank Premiership, Lawlor believes local clubs are in desperate need of a timely injection of finance to upgrade their facilities.
The original £36m figure, which dates back to 2011, was to be divided into five areas, including £10m for the redevelopment of Glentoran’s Oval stadium in East Belfast.
A second strand of £17m was to be made available to other Premiership clubs, with further monies going to other areas of the game, including £3m towards a national training centre.
“The football family has been patient and we have been living in hope for 11 years,” said Lawlor, who plans to hold urgent talks with NIFL’s member clubs.
“We will engage with all of our clubs and plot a way forward and ensure politicians receive the same message on the doorstep,” he added.
“It is deeply disappointing but one positive to come from Monday’s decision is the strong sense of unity and togetherness I have seen from everyone associated with the game here.
“Anybody in politics who wants to see a united country, they only had to look at Twitter on Monday night. Just look at how united Irish League fans are on this issue.
“There is no division and they are all saying the same things, be they supporters of Glentoran, Cliftonville, Linfield, whoever. They are all on the same page.
“There's no doubt we now face adversity because of this decision, but we will sit down and plan our next steps as an Irish League family in the coming days and weeks."
While football's sub regional programme has been shelved, the Department of Finance told BBC that there will be no impact on redevelopment of Casement Park.
