THE North West Counties Football League have confirmed fixtures will now be suspended indefinitely.

With much of the north west – including Cheshire – to be placed under Tier 4 Covid restrictions from midnight, the league say they had no choice but to suspend the competition once again.

Many sides, including 1874 Northwich, Northwich Victoria, Winsford United and Barnton, had not played a league game since before November's national lockdown.

With Cheshire now under Tier 4 restrictions which prohibit non-elite football (all leagues below the National League North and South) though, that wait will go on for a while longer.

NWCFL chairman Paul Lawler says he will begin consulting with clubs about the way forward accordingly.

"Following the announcement today by the UK Government placing the majority of areas in the North West into Tier 4, the League’s emergency committee has no choice but to once again suspend the League season with effect from midnight," he said.

"The FA issued guidance for T4 areas last week, which we didn’t circulate at the time as it wasn’t applicable to us, but for the avoidance of doubt, non-elite sport is not allowed at all, either the playing of matches or training and players cannot travel into or out of T4.

"At this moment in time we will not be setting any dates on when or if we will resume again but I will begin consulting with clubs in due course to ascertain their opinions on a way forward.

"It is a disappointing end to a very difficult year but the health and wellbeing over all concerned has to be the priority."