The Toolstation Northern Counties East League have taken the decision to delay their season to a new provisional start date of September 19th.
The decision comes after a survey amongst clubs said 90% of them do not wish to play League matches behind closed doors, supporting the league’s stance that it isn’t financially viable.
The news comes almost 24 hours after the FA conference call which garnered little new information than a government decision on spectators “is set to be imminent”. The new season won’t start without spectators.
The announcement is also nearly two weeks after the North West Counties pushed their provisional start date back to October 3rd without waiting for the FA to take the lead.
The NCEL’s decision to delay mirrors many Step 7 leagues who went down the same route several days ago.
It is very possible that the delay is one of many and even this two week delay further questions the feasibility of a full 38-season in the timeframe the league have been given.