Clubs asked onhowto end 20/21 campaign
Clubs at steps 3-6 of the non-league pyramid have until this coming Friday to tell the FA how they want to bring the pandemic-scarred 2020/21 campaign to a close.
Unlike last season, when the governing body controversially declared the season null and void without any consultation, the FA are at least seeking clubs’ views this time.
All clubs have to fill in a questionnaire explaining how they would like to see the season finished.
Options include null and voiding, points-per-game ratios being implemented, or pausing the campaigns now and restarting in August with a view to finishing 2020/21 at some point in what would have been 2021/22.
The FA survey is as follows:
1) Does your club hold an immediate view as to what should happen to the 2020/21 season?
a) Yes, we believe that the season should be terminated immediately, and the season declared null and void. No promotion or relegation.
b) Yes, fixtures should cease immediately, with restart planned for August 2021. The aim would then be to complete the 2020/21 season between August 2021 – May 2022.
2) If all step 5 & 6 (Wessex League Premier and Division 1) clubs are able to resume competitive fixtures by 1st March 2021, would your club wish to...
a) Complete the season as normal, extending to 31st May 2021; ending with play-offs, promotion & relegation. This would require 100 per cent of games to be completed. If that is not the case, the season would be null and voided.
b) Complete the season as normal, extending to 31st May 2021; ending with promotion & relegation but promoting the top 2 clubs instead of champion club and play-off winner.
This would also require 100 per cent of games to be completed and, if not, the season would be null and void.
c) Complete as much of the season as possible, with season to end by no later than 31st May 2021; ending with play-offs, promotion and relegation if PPG threshold is met.
d) Complete as much of the season as possible, with season to end by no later than 31st May, 2021; ending with promotion & relegation if PPG threshold is met; but promoting the top two clubs instead of champion club and play-off winner.
e) Adopt alternate competition format and achieve promotion/ relegation.
3) If all step 5 & 6 clubs are able to resume competitive fixtures between 2nd March and 1st April 2021, would your club wish to...
a) Terminate the season when it becomes clear that clubs will not be able to resume competitive fixtures before 2nd March 2021. The season would be declared null and void.
b) Complete as much of the season as possible, with season to end by no later than 31st May 2021; ending with play-offs, promotion & relegation if PPG threshold is met.
c) Complete as much of the season as possible, with season to end by no later than 31st May 2021; ending with promotion & relegation if PPG threshold is met; but promoting the top 2 clubs instead of champion club and play-off winner.
d) Complete the season, however long it takes, delaying the start of the 2021/22 season. If that latter option was chosen, there would potentially be no promotion to step 2 - the National League South - as their 2021/22 season is currently intended to start in August.
If all Step 5 & 6 clubs are able to resume competitive fixtures after the 1st April 2021, would your club wish to...
a) Terminate the season when it becomes clear that clubs will not be able to resume competitive fixtures before 1st April 2021. The season would be null and void.
b) Complete the season, however long it takes, delaying the start of the 2021/22 season. Again, there might be no promotion to step 2.
c) If the season is to continue to 31st May 2021 and all fixtures cannot be completed by that date, but the preference is nevertheless to determine final league standings using a PPG formula and retain promotion/ relegation, what minimum threshold of completed fixtures would need to be reached to trigger the application of the PPG formula?
This percentage would be the average percentage across a given step level, and both steps would need to achieve this threshold for promotion and relegation to take place.
1) 66 per cent; 2) 75 per cent
To reach the 66 per cent threshold in the Wessex Premier this season, teams would need to play 25 games (out of 38). Portland (15) have played the most and Brockenhurst (10) the fewest). They would need to play 29 games to hit the 75 per cent mark.
In Division 1, teams would need to play 24 and 27 matches respectively to hit the two thresholds.
Leaders Laverstock have so far played the most games (14) while Romsey (8) have played the fewest.
For comparison purposes, in 2019/20 table-topping US Portsmouth had played 77.7 per cent of their Wessex Division 1 games when their season was null and voided.
In the Wessex Premier, two clubs had completed 81.5 per cent of their games, while leaders Alresford had completed 73.6 per cent.
Have your say - what do you think should happen to the 2020/21 non league season? Email sport@ thenews.co.uk
CRICKET
James Vince scored his second half-century of the Australian Big Bash League campaign as the Sydney Sixers claimed their eighth win in 11 group matches.
The Hampshire skipper struck 52 off 35 balls, with five fours and a six, as the table-topping Sixers defeated Perth Scorchers by seven wickets with seven balls remaining.
Vince shared a 106-run stand in 11.2 overs with Josh Philippe as the defending champions cruised past Perth’s 163-7 total.
It was Vince’s second highest score of the tournament, having scored 67 against Hobart.