Non-league clubs still awaiting restart plans

While the resumption of the SPFL’S lower leagues looks far from straightforward, the insistence on a PCR testing protocol is a further blow to hopes of a restart for non-league clubs.

The testing would be at a cost to the clubs and is believed to be more than £1,500 per round and would be required before each game.

It is understood that the Lowland League, East of Scotland League and East Region Juniors were informed by SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell this week that there is no movement from the Scottish Government on a lower league restart.

Consideration may be given to the use of lateral flow testing – at around £80 per round – but would need to be done for training and matches, a cost that is still out of the range of a lot of clubs.

Non-league clubs will not receive any further update for at least two weeks and, with the need for a period for players to regain fitness, the earliest possible restart would be mid-april but more likely towards the end of May.

Many clubs are asking for the season to be scrapped, with some form of cup competition to be played if the suspension is lifted.

However, the greater feeling is that the season should be abandoned and preparations made for an earlier start to pre-season for the 2021-22 campaign.

Clubs are using evidence from the English Premier League of an increase in muscle and conditioning injuries in their arguments for a longer pre-season.

The situation is likely to come to a head within the next couple of weeks as any further suspension will leave the league authorities with no option but to cancel seasons.