The Isthmian League have written to all clubs with a series of scenarios of how the League will resume hopefully in September.
But there are fall backs just in case Central Government doesn’t give its approval to the restart, and it could create a potential minefield for the counties clubs!
In his letter, League chairman Nick Robinson explains that the FA have made a number of proposals to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport. Mr Robinson goes onto inform his members that these proposals have been well received, but the final decisions about starting will need to come from central Government, and that this decision still hasn’t been made.
The League’s website goes onto list the varying scenarios, which get more complicated and confusing as time ticks by.
“Dependent on when those decisions are made, we have five/six possible scenarios, as follows:
Scenario One:
Steps 3 & 4 season starts on 19th September, finishes 8th May with
Play-Offs the following week.
Deadline for decision – Friday 21st August.
If it is not possible to start on 19th September, 26th September is FA Trophy, so onto scenario 2…
Scenario 2
Steps 3 & 4 season starts on 3rd October, finishes 15th May with Play-Offs the following week.
Deadline for decision – Friday 4th September.
If it is not possible to start on 3rd October onto scenario 3…
Scenario 3
Steps 3 & 4 season starts on 10th October, finishing 15th May. No Play-Offs: top two clubs promoted.
Deadline for decision – Friday 11th September.
If it is not possible to start on 10th October onto scenario 4…
Scenario 4
Steps 3 & 4 season starts on 17th October, finishing 15th May. No Play-Offs: top two clubs promoted.
Deadline for decision – Friday 18th September.
If it is not possible to start on 17th October onto scenario 5…
Scenario 5
Scenario 5 is subject to FA regulatory approval and will require changes to the NLS Regulations and Standardised Rules, which also require FA Council approval.
Deadline for decision – TBC.
At this point a full fixture programme is not possible without unreasonable levels of midweek and away travel. So, each Step 3 and 4 division is split into two smaller divisions, every club playing each other home and away to create a ‘half’ season, at the end of which, the split divisions are re-merged based on points per game.
The top five clubs will then play a Champions League style round-robin (ideally home and away) with the top 2 clubs promoted.
The lowest ranked five will play each other, home and away, with the necessary number of clubs (i.e. reflecting withdrawals or resignations) being relegated. Clubs not featuring in Champion or Relegation Play-Offs will be able to enter a voluntary cup competition.
We hope we won’t need a Scenario 6, but if it is not possible to start until January 2021, The Alliance Committee will determine if and how the season will be played out following consultation with the member clubs of the Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and the Isthmian League by the Leagues. Any decision of the Alliance Committee and subsequent changes to the NLS Regulations and Standardised Rules will require the approval of FA Council.”