How can we save season now...?
Boss es of the Southern Combination Football League are hoping for guidance from the FA as they gr apple with the question: How can the 2020-21 season be saved?
They were involved in a weekend phone conference with officials from other step five and six league sat which the latest hold-up in the campaign was discussed - along with what can and should be done to salvage the season.
Their hands are tied in terms of getting matches restarted until the government eases Covid restrictions, which, following this week’s new national lockdown, does not look like happening any time soon as cases continue to rise.
Officials fear the 20-21 season will be very difficult to finish naturally if matches cannot restart by early March – and then the question will be: How do we decide promotion and relegation?
Step five and six teams were among those whose 2019-20 seasons were declared null and void last spring, and there are growing fears the same could happen for a second straight year - this at a time when the FA are trying to re organise the whole non-league pyramid.
But clubs and leagues are keen to consider all the options - which could include using points per game to workout final tables, or even adding two seasons’ worth of results together to give one set of final placings.
SCFL chairman Steve Nealgrove said talks were going on in the background but there was little the league could do before the FA had given guidance.