Clubs fearing for future as season in ‘complete limbo’
LOCAL sports clubs are fearing for their very future amid uncertainty over whether they can recommence play at all this season.
Domestic Welsh football below the top-flight Cymru Premier remains largely on hiatus due to lockdown restrictions, with calls for more help to ensure some clubs’ survival.
The managers of two of Anglesey’s biggest clubs, who ply their trade in the second tier Cymru North league, have called for a “clear plan of action” as the uncertainty drags on.
Holyhead Hotspur had been looking forward to a return to the league after winning their championship last year, but manager Darren Garmey says that the physical and mental wellbeing of both players and staff is currently “taking a battering” with no certainty when - or indeed if - the situation will change.
“We have a thriving junior section at the club, but even there I’ve seen how affected our players have been by months of no competitive games - young children who have lost the desire they had before lockdown to be active and stay healthy through playing sport, whether it be football or not,” he said.
“For our senior players, many are feeling the weight of providing for their families through the pandemic on their shoulders too and I’m
very worried about the toll not playing competitively is taking on everyone in our sporting community.
“I don’t think Welsh Government realises how serious this is. They need to act quickly.”
The manager of Llangefni Town described the situation as “complete limbo”.
Chris Roberts said: “The FAW’s hands are tied, really, because they can’t give us the ‘OK’ to play competitive games until the Welsh Government meets them halfway and puts the conditions
in place to allow that. Playing competitive sport has been a huge part of our lives, so to have that taken away from us at a time where we most need it is very distressing.
“I hope a resolution can be reached soon to allow us to play or clubs and players will quickly disappear, not just affecting us now, but young boys and girls who want to play football in the future too.”
Ynys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for more financial support to help sustain all sports through the current uncertainty amid fears that clubs will “otherwise disappear”.
“The knock-on effects will make Wales less active, less healthy and with fewer opportunities for future generations,” he said.
“A local sports team is more than the sport itself - it’s about bringing communities together, the health benefits and of course, feeding talent through to higher tiers.
“Without clubs progressing at the grass roots level, ultimately the national game will suffer.”
World football governing body FIFA has provided £750,000 to the FAW and all other national associations to help ease the financial brunt left by the coronavirus and ongoing lockdown restrictions.
Having been classed as elite level by the Welsh Government and Sport Wales, the Cymru Premier was allowed to recommence its season on September 11 with all games played behind closed doors.
But this has caused its own issues, with clubs claiming they may struggle to see out the season without income generated by paying fans and ongoing use of clubhouses and such facilities.
During an invited visit to Bala Town’s Maes Tegid on Saturday, Liz Saville Roberts MP called for the return of at least some spectators to matches. Speaking to S4C’s Sgorio, she said: “We have people watching games in pubs with some rule of 30 there, but only a few can come here.
“The messages I hear from doctors is how important it is for people to be outside - even in the rain - and take interest in sports.
“Yes we need to social distance, (but) I believe it is better to be outside with each other rather than living at arm’s length in front of our televisions.”
The FAW has been asked to comment.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As soon as it is safe to restart football in the different leagues, we will do so.
“We have provided guidance for the safe return of sport and we are working with Sport Wales and governing bodies on the safe return to play.
“Clubs in the Welsh Premier have all the regulated nature of the settings in which they operate. That cannot be said of some other parts of the football pyramid. The health and safety of players, officials and the public is absolutely paramount and we will not put that at risk.
“Sport Wales operates both a sport resilience fund, which has provided direct funding to the FAW to date, as well as a community club focused Be Active Wales Fund. With the support of the FAW in terms of promotion and assessment, local football clubs have been the significant beneficiaries of that fund.”