Non League leagues from Steps 3 to 7 are facing a suspension as the country heads into a second lockdown from Thursday.
Prime minister Boris Johnson laid out the rules for the new lockdown which are “less prohibitive” than earlier this year, but insist people stay at home except for educational purposes, work, medical reasons or to escape potential harm.
Mr Johnson also added he hopes to return to the Tiered system after December 2nd.
Elite sport is understood to be able to continue so from the National North upwards, their seasons continue. But it is expected Steps 3-7 will have to put the brakes on.
The short-term aim for those clubs is ensuring they get the financial support to get through this period – which could potentially go on longer than a month. The pressure is on the FA and other organisations such as Sport England to announce financial packages as soon as possible.
The other question facing the FA is what to do with the season for Step 3 and below?
In March, they made a quick decision to expunge the season. There is no reason to do that at this stage.
This time they have plenty of time to wait to make a considered decision. A very optimistic view would be that the campaign can reconvene in December.
But given the Government’s 12 week lockdown turned into six long months earlier this year and potential bad weather, early 2021 would be a good starting point.
That means the end date will have to be extended. In the NCEL, through no fault of their own Staveley MW have only played four league games so to expect them and other teams who have played few matches to cram 34 fixtures in between January and May would be ridiculous. That’s without factoring in a third lockdown.
If you were to criticise the FA, the idea, which was backed by several managers and chairmen, of splitting and localising the leagues for just season is proving to have been a good one. Had that been put in place, clubs would be halfway through their seasons by now and would have a good chance of finishing the campaign next year.
What about priem football is that now being cancelled as well now what about the FA cup games
Why can,t step 3/6 play behind close doors a get the same help as the nation teams get.
surely it must be better out in the fresh air and will the greedy f a been passing some of the money it earns from sky to smaller clouds or still round in there big cars attending mettimgs in big venues