The WESTERN LEAGUE view on what to happen to this season

[Dave Deacon]

As have all Step 5 & 6 leagues, the WESTERN LEAGUE has been asked to participate in a Webex meeting on Tuesday 24th March with the FA and the leagues have all been asked for their position as regards the current season.

This is the Western League response below which has been forwarded onto the FA.

Although the Western League board see this as the only way to conclude the current season, this will not necessarily be the final outcome from the meeting on Tuesday. 

OUR MESSAGE TO THE FA:

Like many leagues around the country since matches were suspended, the board of the Western League has discussed various options for the conclusion of the season. I am sure that you have also had similar discussions.

There are a range of possibilities and whichever one is finally decided upon, it is inevitable that some clubs and possibly leagues will be disappointed by the final decision. The view of the Western League is that the current season should be abandoned and that no promotions or relegations take place.

In effect making the 2019/20 season void. The 2020/21 season should then commence (hopefully on time) with league constitutions exactly as they were for the start of the current season.

We see a problem with drawing a line under the season and then promoting and relegating clubs on a points per game basis. Clubs placed just below the promotion places could rightly argue that with so many games still left to play, they would have a realistic chance of promotion. Equally, clubs in a relegation position could argue that they could overhaul clubs above them with so many matches still to be played. There would also be an issue with trying to hold play-off matches at a yet undetermined time in readiness for the 2020/21 season.

[Ian Pethick]

Obviously not the final decision, and only a proposal to be agreed and ratified, but this seems to me to be the only real option for this season. Personally, and based upon the credible reporting and medical opinion out there, I would not expect the 2020/21 season to start in August.

[baldy]

As you have posted elsewhere WOTP, if you, like me, believe that it may well be many months before sport resumes, what’s the hurry to make these decisions? It may be possible that this season can be finished and the 20/21 season may never happen.