‘If it’s stopstart then scrub the league’

Pete Stiles is hoping the Wessex League do not rush into a decision over whether the season can restart.

Instead, the Fareham Town boss has told the authorities to give themselves a reasonable amount of time before informing clubs on the outcome of the 2020-21 campaign.

Currently, the Wessex League has been paused until January 18 with the whole of Hampshire now under tier four government coronavirus restrictions.

This is the second time the Wessex League has been paused this season after the month-long 'non-elite' football suspension implemented when a nationwide lockdown was introduced at the start of November.

In that case, some clubs were thrust back into action just days after restrictions were eased in early December without even having trained.

Stiles, below, insists a reasonable amount of time must be given for players to get back up to speed this time around - should the campaign restart.

He sees no reason why the season cannot be completed, even if restrictions remain in place until February.

However, he would rather the campaign was 'scrubbed' if there were concerns over another potential pausing.

'What we really need is for someone to say, ‘you can start back first week in February, you can train from the third week in January,’ then you’ll have a couple of weeks get ready for it again,' said Stiles.

‘I would (like to see the season completed). But if it’s going to keep stop-start then scrub the thing because it’s no good to anyone.

'They’ve only got to extend the season by a couple of months if they were to shut it down until January and then have a look at the country as a whole to see how things are going.

‘Normally, you finish in April, why not finish in May or June and then you can get the season done? But I don’t know what they’ll do, I really don’t.'

Fourth-placed Fareham still have 27 of their 38 Wessex Premier games to play - 71 per cent of the season - with only Brockenhurst (28) having more matches left.

The Reds also remain in the FA Vase after a record-equalling run this season.

They were due to travel to Plymouth Parkway last Sunday for a third round clash but that was postponed with Fareham placed in tier four of the government guidelines from Boxing Day.

The FA yesterday contacted clubs to say all outstanding ties are currently postponed until further notice.

‘We will continue working closely with the relevant parties to ensure these fixtures can be rescheduled as soon as it is safe to do so,’ said the FA in an email.

Moussa Bakayoko scored twice at the Under-17 World Cup in 2013