Christmas off - it's not what Worthing wanted

Bosses of the Isthmian League have decided to keep their fixtures on hold for the time being – and hopes of a prompt restart after Christmas seem to be fading. It’s frustrating for all clubs, of course, but at Woodside Road that feeling will perhaps be sharper, for the season has been put on hold with Worthing top of the Isthmian premier – exactly where they were last spring when the 2019-20 campaign ended early and was then declared null and void. Worthing, who lost 4-2 at Haywards Heath in a friendly, will hope league officials are serious in their talk of extending this season and making sure it is played to a proper conclusion. But with Covid restrictions now even tougher in large parts of the south-east – including in areas housing many of the Isthmian League’s clubs – fears of another lost season are increasing. Worthing boss Adam Hinshelwood has said all they can do is wait for the restart and be ready to resume the fixture list when allowed to do so. The league’s latest update on its plans came at the end of last week, when a statement said: “As indicated previously the Isthmian League Board has met following the latest Government review and they have unanimously agreed to continue with the pause of the 2020/21 season. “Since the initial survey on 2 December the infection rate has deteriorated in the geographical footprint of their member clubs, which has resulted in a much larger number of Isthmian League clubs being placed in Tier 3. In reaching this decision the board considered several factors such as the lack of income from secondary spend revenue, the reduced attendances at Tier 3 clubs and more importantly, the duty of care the league has to players, club officials, volunteers and supporters during this current pandemic. “The Board will continue to monitor the situation in line with government review dates and/or any decision that allows government grants to become available to member clubs. The board has not yet set a formal re-start date, but clubs will give at least 14 days’ notice of the recommencement.”