League wanting to scrap the campaign
THE Southern League has extended the suspension of the 2020/21 season until March 6 - and are recommending that the campaign should be scrapped.
A statement issued by the league also says clubs will shortly be asked by the FA for their views on the season as a whole - but add that the view of the league board is that the season should end and be declared null and void.
The statement said: “The Board of the Pitching In Southern Football League has, together with its fellow Trident Leagues, reviewed the implications of the latest government lockdown.
“The matter was also discussed at length by the FA’S Alliance Committee earlier this week.
“In order to reach a decision that will apply across Steps 3 and 4 in the National League System, and which is informed by the views of all clubs at Steps 3 and 4, clubs will shortly be asked by the Football Association to provide views on whether the 2020/21 season should be terminated and, if not, what the alternative should be.
“This will take the form of a short survey.
“Independent of that survey, all three of the Trident League’s boards hold the view that the season should cease immediately and be declared null and void.
“The ultimate decision lies with the FA Council, following a proposal made by the Alliance Committee but no proposal will be drafted until clubs’ views have been collated and assessed.
“In the meantime, the Pitching In Southern Football League is postponing all fixtures up to and including Saturday March 6 since there is no suggestion that the national lockdown will be lifted prior to said date.
“The league will continue to provide its member clubs with updates as and when it is able to do so.”
The FA is also looking to survey clubs at steps 5 and 6 to determine how this season should be decided. Once the FA has received the results from all non-league teams from steps 3-6, the Leagues Committee and FA Council will meet to make a decision.
In a statement, the Western League said: “The Football Association Leagues Committee met on Tuesday 5 January 2021 to discuss the current lockdown imposed throughout the country.
“The Committee, which governs football at the level of the Toolstation Western League, concluded that with the current restrictions in place any resumption of football, in a manner that provides the clubs with safety coupled with the ability to admit supporters, means that completing the 2020/2021 season is becoming increasingly doubtful.
“The FA have stated that information gathered to date suggests that extending the season into June would not be feasible.
“Given that the FA have not made a decision regarding the possibility to play out this season, or alternatively how and when this season is concluded, the Committee have decided to issue all Toolstation Western League Clubs with a survey.
“The results of this survey will be used to assist the Leagues Committee in making a recommendation to FA Council as to how this season is concluded. Once the FA Council has met, the Leagues Committee will then call a meeting of the Step 5 & 6 Leagues to advise them of the decision.”
THE Toolstation Western League is using the current lockdown to celebrate the contribution made by the game’s unsung heroes, without whom clubs wouldn’t survive.
At the start of the first lockdown last March, the Western League launched the Think of a Fan campaign, to remember those supporters who would be hit hardest by the stay at home restrictions.
Whilst Think of a Fan remains as relevant today as it was when it started, the Western League hope that by celebrating the contribution made by clubs’ unsung heroes, fans can celebrate what’s best about the game of football, at a time when so much publicity is focussed on the negative impact the Coronavirus pandemic is having on society.
The league has contacted all clubs asking for nominations and will be celebrating unsung heroes across their media channels, including on social media, the league website toolstationleague. com and on the weekly Toolstation Western League Podcast, which continues whilst football is suspended.
To send in your unsung heroes, email ian.nockolds@toolstationleague.com or james.healey@toolstationleague.com.