Woslfixture callamid‘test barrier’ fears

West ofscotland Leaguechairman Davemckennasaysif testing is mandatory it couldbea barrier forthe return offootball.

But hesays leaguerepresentatives will fighttheir cornerin a meeting with the Scottishfathis week.

Ahead of thatsummit,west of Scotland League bosses issueda statementon Sunday saying theywere withdrawing fixtures and will complete up to50per centofgames before declaring champions.

Airdrie side Gartcairn, who play in Conference B, will beimpacted by the changesand the plannednewfixtures are set to beannounced in duecourse.

All football below the SPFL Championship iscurrently suspended and Mckennasays testing is justan idea on thetable at this stage, but hopes that it doesn’t preventthelower leagues fromgetting back to action.

THEWOSL will meet with the SFA today, with the Highland and Lowland Leagues set forathursday summit.

Mckenna said:“we’ve seen what is being proposed, we’ll beatt e

hv meetingsand will try and help to g et football back.

“Theonething that has comeoutis thatthey’re talking about reintroducing testing att h ele els below thechampionship and obviously that’s going to beachallenge for part-time players.

“It’sonething being in a bubbleand we’ve seen full-timeclubs have difficultykeeping thatabsolutely right.

“I don’t knowhow all of that is going to work; atthe minutethere is no indication that testing is going to bea prerequisite, theinformation that I’ve got is that it has been puton thetable, it’s still to be discussed.

“Until we havethe meetings Idon’t know exactlyhow much of a potential barrier that might be.

“For part-time players it has already been recognised that a lot, ifnot most, of these guys have jobs,families, other thingsthat are in their livesthat might makeit difficult.

“Testing is certainlynot going to make it easier to get back, but at the momentthere’s noindication that it’s going to be mandatory. It’son thetable and we’ll hear more at the meetings.”

The statement from THEWOSL Interim Managing Group regarding fixtures read:“the fixtures have been rescheduled and have been recast in such a way thatouraim is to get to a point where a minimum of 50per cent ofgames will have beenplayed and where all teams will have played each of the teamsin their division at least once.

“It has also beendecided thatifa gameis postponed dueto pitch problemsthatthe game will be rescheduled to be playedwithin 11 daysof the postponement date.

“This will helpusachievethe aforementioned targets of all teams playing each other at least onceand getting usoverthe50per centrequired to declare thechampionson PPG (points per game).”

Uncertainty Chairman Dave Mckenna