Tyrone All-Ireland winning U21 manager Feargal Logan would be 'mightily disappointed' if the competition was axed.

Reacting to GAA Director-General Paraic Duffy's proposal that the U21 FC be discontinued after 2017, Logan told The Irish News: "I would be mightily disappointed to see it go, but I think the bigger challenge for anybody that was thinking of bringing it to an end would be what can fill the void.

"It would be difficult to think of any interference with it, other than to re-schedule it or timetable it differently that it's not at such a crammed time of the year.

"If they were to restructure the whole calendar, it might allow for a proper slot for the U21s. If the bigger masterplan is changed, then everybody might comfortably fit inside it without just axing one thing and hoping that it's going to be the remedy to everything.

"I understand these people are trying to rearrange the calendar, but we definitely need something on a county basis to bring people from minor up to senior."

He continued: "I would respect entirely any proposal or thought that Paraic Duffy would have because he continues to keep the best interests of the Association up front and central and I understand that position.

"But there clearly is a requirement to help the transition from minor football to senior inter-county football, whether that be in an U21 football competition, or whether it be U20, or whether it be junior teams in all the counties.

"There are a number of players who fall down the chute fairly quickly and get lost to the system when they come to the end of their minor county days.

"Thats a big drop-off zone, so I think you wouldn't want to risk anything that broadens that or makes that a bigger issue.

"I think it would be very wrong, just to leave a gap, a void, unless it's going to be filled brilliantly by club structures or some other way. I think it's critical."

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