Reasons for USP optimism despite FA’s decision to curtail campaign
Boss Turnbull happy to hear some welcome good news
US Portsmouth boss Glenn Turnbull has welcomed a double dose of good news - even though his club won’t play any more Wessex League games until August.
The club’s FA Vase campaign will restart in April - they are due to host Christchurch in the last 32 - and there is fresh hope regarding a non-league restructure that could see USP promoted.
The FA announced on Wednesday, to no huge surprise, that there will be no more league games at steps 3-6 of the non-league pyramid in a pandemicwrecked 2020/21 campaign.
But Turnbull hopes ‘a distinct change of language’ could result in USP being handed the Wessex promotion they crave.
The governing body controversially declared the previous season, 2019/20, null and void last March.
On Wednesday evening, the FA declared this term ‘curtailed with immediate effect, with no further league matches taking place this season.’
They also said they will ‘revisit discussions around a potential restructure at Steps 4-6 of the NLS, which was previously agreed and has been on hold since the 2019-20 season.’
Under the restructuring proposals, agreed in early 2019, the top four teams in the Wessex League Division 1 would be promoted to the Premier.
Last season, USP were top when the season was null and voided and this term they are fourth. Over the two seasons, they are top on a points-pergame basis.
With the FA making no mention of null and voiding 2020/21, and a desire to ‘revisit’ the restructure now made public, Turnbull is optimistic.
‘That distinct change of language is going to be important,’ he said.
‘I would like to think however the FA look at it - whether it’s ‘Glenn’s a jolly good bloke’ or PPG - we would be in the mix.
‘We were top last season and we’re third on PPG this season.’
In 2019/20 USP were seven points clear at the top, and 11 points ahead of the fifth-placed team, with only eight games remaining when the campaign was null and voided.
This term, Laverstock & Ford are eight points clear having won 11 and drawn three of their 14 games.
‘I imagine Laverstock will be sat at home feeling dejected,’ said Turnbull. ‘They will feel exactly how I did last year.’
With so many games left to play, it was no real shock so many clubs voted to null and void - 76 per cent across steps 3-6 inclusive.
Nationally, there were 81 per cent of matches left to complete for steps 3 and 4, and 75 per cent at steps 5 and 6.
In the Wessex Premier, only 238 out of 760 had been played - just 31.3 per cent of the fixtures.
In their survey, the FA had given clubs the choice of voting on playing a certain percentage of games in 2020/21 and then deciding promotion/relegation via PPG.
The options were either 66 per cent of fixtures or 75 per cent.
Of the 621 step 5 and 6 clubs that replied, only 193 gave an answer with 58 per cent (111 clubs) favouring 66 per cent.
In the Wessex Premier, a 66 per cent threshold would have meant clubs playing 25 games.
Given an April 10 restart and a May 31 finish, clubs would have had to play between 10 and 15 matches in a 53-day period.
Logistically, it could have been done but 339 step 5 and 6 clubs - 55 per cent of those that responded - chose null and void.
Asked how they would like to see 2020/21 brought to a close, all 39 Wessex League clubs replied.
Of them, 59 per cent voted for null and void, 12 per cent for an August restart and 29 per cent for another option.
Among the other options were ending this season via a PGG methodology or adopting the Project NonLeague proposal of PPG from the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons combined.
Overall, across steps 3-6, 76 per cent of clubs voted to null and void - a figure Turnbull said was ‘massively disappointing’ - if the season could not be restarted before April 1.
Boris Johnson said on Monday that outdoor team sports could not return until March 29, and the FA subsequently said that steps 3-6 could not extend their seasons into June. Though there will be no more league games, the Vase is restarting in April. There are still five rounds to play before the final
- the third, fourth, fifth, quarter finals and semi-finals.
With the first Euro 2020 game at Wembley on June 13, the FA will almost certainly want the Vase final played in May.
That can easily be done. Starting with the three outstanding third round ties on April 10 - including Fareham’s trip to Plymouth Parkway - ties could be played on five successive Saturdays, ending with the one-leg semis on
May 8.
The final could then be played at Wembley on the weekend of May 22/23 - either side of the FA Cup final and the Championship/EFL play-offs.
Turnbull said: ‘It’s good that we’ve got something to aim for.
‘Ideally we’d like at least a fortnight’s training and a friendly before we play Christchurch.
‘We’ll need to hit the ground running because they’re a good side.
‘I saw on Twitter a few Christchurch fans saying they can now look forward to reaching the last 16.
‘Good, that’s my team talk sorted!’
We’ll need to hit the ground running because Christchurch are a good side
Steve Evans has threatened to ring the changes for Gillingham’s trip to Fratton Park.
The Gills boss was furious with his side’s defeat at the hands of League One strugglers AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night – and even had his players report for training on their day off on Wednesday.
A few home truths were subsequently told, with Evans stating that some of his players simply ‘aren’t good enough’ for this level.
Former Pompey loanee Stuart O’Keefe is likely to earn a recall, along with Jordan Graham.
Callum Slattery, who is currently on loan from Southampton, will miss out after suffering ankle ligament damage in Gillingham’s recent win against Bristol Rovers.
AFTER AN erratic eight days, Ryan Williams has challenged Pompey to produce ‘pure consistency’ to boost promotion hopes.
Successive defeats to Bristol Rovers and Blackpool suggested Kenny Jackett’s men were fading from the battle for League One’s top two.
However, the players responded magnificently to claim a 1-0 triumph at in-form Oxford United on Tuesday night.
The Blues have won five, lost four and drawn one of their last 10 league matches, representing frustrating unpredictability.
The problem is recognised by Williams, who is adamant the issue of consistency needs to be addressed during the final 17 games – starting against Gillingham on Saturday.
He said: ‘I think the Oxford result showed character and I think it showed depth as well.
‘Harvey White came in, Ellis Harrison was up front – it showed the desire and talent of lads coming in. It showed what everyone is about and what the team is about.
‘Pure consistency is now needed. We have enough to be good on a consistent basis and have to keep the foot on the accelerator, rather than taking it off a little. ‘It’s just consistency. You can afford every now and again to have a couple of games where you don’t play at your best or don’t get the result that you want.
‘But it can never go longer than 2-3 games, that’s when problems happen and you are looking down rather than up. Tuesday night told us to look upwards again.
‘You question yourself, question whether you can do it - then when you do get a result like Tuesday, it helps the confidence and helps the mentality of the group.’
Pompey are presently fourth in League One, six points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.
On Saturday they host a Gillingham side positioned 15th, with two wins in their last six matches.
Williams added: ‘We wanted that win at Oxford, we really did.
‘We should have got against Blackpool, but went to the Kassam Stadium and produced a really good performance to improve our position.
‘Losing to Hull at home was a bit of a blip. Games against the top six last season weren’t very good, but it is kind of the opposite this year.
‘This campaign, we also haven’t been very good at home, but better away. We know we need to sort our home form out.
‘Now we’re back home again on Saturday.’