SOUTH West Peninsula League secretary Phil Hiscox says board officials were left with little choice but to announce there will not be any cup competitions organised by the league with which to end the season.

They had been hoping to stage the Walter C Parson Cup and a one-off Covid Cup to give a meaningful and entertaining end to the campaign after the League season had to be curtailed.

However, with the prospect of no fans being allowed back into grounds until May 17 at the earliest, and the season having to end on May 31, it was decided holding cup competitions would be impossible.

Frustrating

“The FA guidance about the return of spectators and hospitality has kiboshed any chance of playing any meaningful football in Step Three to Six during the rest of this season,” said Hiscox.

“It is just impractical and makes it an unavoidable decision.

“A total of 32 of our 40 clubs had said they would have played on to some degree, but over 20 of those 32 had said that, without fans, they would not enter.

“Only one club in the whole of the league had said they were happy to play in any circumstances, ie behind closed doors.

“It is very, very frustrating, but at least we have now got some clarity over what is happening.”

A statement issued by Hiscox on behalf of the board said: “The board of the league held a scheduled ‘Zoom’ meeting and were able to consider the guidance sent by The Football Association late that afternoon in its deliberations.

“The board had previously agreed to look into running two end-of-season Cups – one knockout and one group based – and were due to discuss the formulation of them, having now consulted with clubs (32 of the 40 had indicated that they would wish to participate, though some had specific queries which would have been looked at). However, we received the news that the return of fans is not on the horizon, with FA guidance suggesting May 17 at the earliest, (and an end date of May 31 for any Step 3/6 club in any Cup).

“Further the clarification of hospitality from April 12 being only table service in COVID-restricted bubbles means secondary spend from licensed premises would be restricted and not practical whilst games are in progress.

“A direct quote from the guidance received from the FA reads: ‘Spectators – unfortunately, the current understanding at DCMS (Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) is that spectators for non-elite football will be under the same categorisation as outlined for all spectators in the roadmap.

‘Therefore, unless informed otherwise, we believe all fixtures will need to be behind closed doors until no earlier than May 17, except for any people spectating for safeguarding purposes.

‘Hospitality – the roadmap indicates that outdoor hospitality will be allowable no earlier than April 12. However, the guidance is clear that any outdoor hospitality customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) only.’

“As a result, the board were unanimous that without the return of fans, at least in the previous COVID-secure way used earlier in the season, that clubs would not be able to afford to play these matches as no admission and no secondary spend would be possible.

“We are also concerned that clubs run by volunteers cannot reasonably be expected to police the ‘no fans’ rules.

“Therefore, in light of the guidance and with a heavy heart, a proposer and seconder put forward a motion that we do not run any end-of -season Cups and the motion was passed by 12 votes to nil.

“It has also been decided that the Annual Dinner and Presentation evening will not now take place, but we have moved our booking at The Crowne Plaza to June 3, 2022.

“The 2021 Annual General Meeting will have to be held in a COVID-secure manner and therefore we will look to stage it in an online format, similar to how last year’s AGM was conducted.”

League chairman Steve Ware also informed the meeting that, due to work and family commitments, he will not be standing for re-election at the AGM, but this will not affect the Cup sponsorship.

He was thanked by the board and initial discussions about nominations for his replacement in June were held.

A decision is still to be made by county FA’s about their Cup competitions, but it seems likely that they will follow suit.

Clubs have the option to play friendlies from March 29 onwards, but only under the criteria mentioned above laid down by the FA.