Heavy price of starting in ‘fragile’ time
BACUP Borough’s North West Counties League Division One season is at an end.
The decision was announced by the FA Alliance and Leagues Committees that the 2020/21 season should be curtailed after data was gathered from a recent survey by clubs.
Peters said the recent meeting and recommendations by the committees did not come as a surprise.
“I am not surprised one bit,” he said. “I have been saying it all along that the season should never have started in the first place. It was a fragile situation from the outset and always going to end with disappointment. The scientists were constantly telling us that a second and third wave would cause problems but the powers that be wanted to carry on regardless.
“It’s yet another season where money has been wasted, and a season curtailed is pretty much another null and void. Clubs are thousands of pounds lighter with nothing to show for it. We have had assistance from various bodies but it is still going to leave us counting the cost and for what?”
From the survey 99.1% of clubs at Steps 3 and 4, submitted papers, and 95.8% of clubs at Steps 5 and 6 including Bacup also chose to submit their opinion on the matter.
The findings from the survey showed that over 76% of clubs across Steps 3-6 decided that they wanted to curtail the 2020-21 league season if it could not be restarted with limited supporters and hospitality in place before 1 April 2021.
During the talks it was also discussed that the season could not be continued beyond the end of May 2021 as it was deemed not a viable option, and would cause financial problems for many clubs especially those with contract players.
From the survey results and the constant issues surrounding Covid-19, including the restrictions and financial implications it has caused the vast majority of clubs. The FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees have now reached the decision that subject to the approval of FA Council, the 2020-21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the NLS should be curtailed with immediate effect, and no other league games to take place this season.
The Committees will now present their collective recommendations to The FA Council for ratification. It has also been decided that subject to FA Council’s decision regarding the curtailment of the season at Steps 3 to 6, both committees will revisit discussions around a potential restructure at Steps 4-6 of the NLS. These discussions will take place over the coming months.