Don't rush to write off another non-league football season

Horsham boss Dom Di Paola says there is no hurry to terminate another season as Isthmian League officials and clubs consider what to do about the latest lockdown.
Dom Di Paola does not see the need to decide now to end the seasonDom Di Paola does not see the need to decide now to end the season
Dom Di Paola does not see the need to decide now to end the season

Clubs across steps three and four of the non-league world are being asked for their views on whether the 2020-21 campaign should be declared null and void or somehow salvaged.

Di Paola says there is no need to make a firm decision now – when there is a still a chance football could restart as early as March.

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The Hornets manager has consistently criticised the fact football’s leaders did not put in place rules governing how this season would be settled if a full set of fixtures could not be completed.

But he said there was still time to save 2020-21, which at Horsham’s Isthmian premier level has been on hold since November 5.

The board of the Isthmian League and their Southern and Northern League counterparts have publicly said they believe the season should be terminated.

Di Paola told us: “There’s been a breakdown of last season and this season’s results going around and it shows Worthing and Cray clearly deserve to go up from our league having played a full season’s games.

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“I would have no problem if that was how they decided to settle it but I’m not sure they will.

“What I don’t see is the need to decide now to make it null and void.

“There are six weeks to the end of February and with good signs over infection rates coming down, we may be able to start again then.

“Why can’t we wait until then and, if we can restart, an agreement could be put in place saying that if teams have played x number of games by the end of May, then we can use points per game or work out promotion and relegation.

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“Some people seem desperate to write off another season, though.”

Di Paola has been talking to his Horsham players and said the over-riding feeling among them was that they were desperate to resume playing – and would like to have something to play for.

“Players and managers have lost the best part of two years of their careers and the sooner we and the fans can get back to enjoying football again, the better,” he said. “And we certainly need clarity in how it will be handled.”