WE CAN’T SURVIVE A SHUTDOWN

talks this week with their players and asking them to take extended time off until definitive guidelines are forthcoming from the powers that be.

“It might mean calling a halt to this season which obviously doesn’t suit anyone connected with Pollok – least of all myself – and there’s no doubt different clubs will be affected in different ways but better to do something than nothing, even if it means timelines are set in stone for pulling the plug.

“An Extraordinary General Meeting had already been called for later this month to allow Pollok’s members to discuss the proposed move to the Lowland League set-up and I hazard a guess there might be another item added to the agenda.”

Murdie went on to reveal the ongoing situation has caused West Region Secretary Kenny Young to revamp the fixture list and Benburb are now lined up as Pollok’s next opponents.

He added: “No date has been arranged as you might expect but should the thumbs-up for a resumption of football be given in mid-April, just four weeks away, then the Macron Scottish Cup takes precedence as things stand. We would have both Paul

Gallagher and Derek Esplin suspended going into our biggest game of the season, which would be grossly unfair on us as a club and the players themselves.

“Not knowing if we will play again or not is opening up a can of worms so better if a decision is made sooner rather than later.”

Any extended shutdown will enable Pollok’s long-term injured pair of David Barron and Ryan McGregor to return to playing action. Ex-St Mirren defender Barron is already back in full training while the latter’s return from cruciate ligament surgery is a month away at worst.

Murdie said: “David is at the stage where he needs match fitness but the SFA directive bans bounce games under any circumstances so his wait goes on as indeed it probably will for Ryan. But it’s pleasing to think two players of their qualities are on the comeback trail.”

The whole game is in a state of limbo