Tiverton in favour of season restarting later in the year

TIVERTON Town joint manager Martyn Rogers says the club has ‘voted’ to roll the Southern League season over into next season, writes Richard Highes.

However, he is not expecting to hear from the authorities until they have sorted out what to do about the National South suspension.

The National South division, Step 2 of the non-league ladder, was suspended for two weeks last week because of an argument about promised grants turning into loans.

The Southern League and all the leagues below were asked for their ‘opinion’ last week about how to finish the season – with Tiverton second in the Southern League’s Premier Division South table after only seven games.

The FA gave clubs three choices – with many opting to to stop this season now and start it again in August with the same amount of games played and points accrued – basically making it a 2020-21-22 season.

Rogers says he has spoken to people at Truro City and Willand Rovers and this is their favoured option, too

– but until the mess in the National League is sorted out, there may be a short wait for further news.

“For promotion and relegation you have got to have them knowing what they are doing,” said Rogers.

“We have had the survey and have replied with what we want, which is basically suspend and then carry on, so it will be interesting to see what happens.”

It is unlikely clubs will have gone with the points-per-game option as enough games haven’t been played this season, so it looks like being a competition between ‘rolling over’ and ‘null and voiding’. That last option would mean a second successive season below the National League being scrapped.

South West Peninsula League secretary Phil Hiscox is also playing the waiting game. He said: “I have received an email from the FA saying they have had 623 replies to the survey.

“They will spend a couple of days collating them, then they will be calling two meetings – one for Step 3 and 4, and one for Step 5 and 6.”