WRANGLING continues as to how best to resolve the 2020-21 non-league football season.
As the weeks of inactivity increase, so does the likelihood of a second consecutive campaign being wiped from the record books – something that now seems almost inevitable.
Aside from the structural consequences that would bring – the FA are still aiming to complete a revamp of the National League System but may be forced to delay it again – it would place clubs in dire financial need, with season tickets once again needing to be refunded among other costs.
However, 1874 Northwich co-manager Wayne Goodison believes one group’s voice in this debate appears to have been forgotten.
“People are arguing back and forth about solutions and what should be put in place, but the players have been parked a bit,” he said.
“There’s almost an expectation that they will just fall in with what’s handed down to them.
“If you think about the vaccinations, if it gets to March or April and the call comes to play because so many have been vaccinated, the players won’t have been as they don’t fit that demographic.
“What do you do then? Do you tell them they’ve now got to put themselves at risk and they have to accept that?
“There’s the mental health aspect to it as well – I know players who are struggling with it. They are out of a routine as there’s no clarity as to what’s going on.
“We’re still putting things out for our players but we can’t really insist on it with them. It’s down to them what they do.
“As a coach, you can’t really impose that on players now.
“In football terms, in the time between starting again and this current stop, we played one game (an FA Vase defeat to West Auckland Town in December) – was that absolutely necessary?
“It was better for us as we were at home but for the West Auckland lads, coming all the way down for a game that now looks like it may not have meant anything.
“It’s all a mess so it’s been difficult from a planning point of view.
“Footballers like their routine and they want to know when they are training and playing. We’ve had to shuffle around with training venues because some weren’t open.
“Logistically, it has been a real nightmare for everyone at non-league.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here