Covid: Isle of Wight football's Wessex season could end early

More than six weeks ago, on Christmas Day, the Island was a Tier One area — one deemed to be among the safest in the country, with football watched by improved crowds at Cowes Sports, and for East Cowes Vics and Newport games at Beatrice Avenue.

Fans had been starved of action for months on end, punctuated by two lockdowns at that stage.

Socially distanced fans at East Cowes Vics before the current lockdown.

But a day later, things changed dramatically as a new Covid variant spread like wildfire, which led to the Island being reclassified as Tier Three on Boxing Day and the Wessex League suspending fixtures to what they then hoped would be a possible January 18 start.

However, more frustration was piled on when the government downgraded the Island to Tier Four on New Year’s Eve and announced a full national lockdown from January 5.

Last month, the FA’s League Committee reacted to the situation by sending out a questionnaire to each Step 5 and 6 club in England, asking for their view on how the season should be decided.

The last time players were allowed a pre-match handshake was almost a year ago.

Social media has sparked into life, with a general impression nationally clubs want the season to end. But it is the FA Council’s decision to make on non-league matters.

Cowes, in the Wessex Premier (Step 5 of the English football league pyramid), together with Vics and Port, of Division 1 (Step 6), were among many hundreds of non-league clubs asked to submit their preferred option.

Options included making the season null and void, restarting the season in August, trying to complete as much of the season as possible before June and delaying next season to complete the current campaign.

The FA’s committee for Levels 5-6 have, since the closing date of January 19 for clubs’ views, had a mammoth task collating and analysing the data.

For all clubs, getting through the pandemic and enjoying football again is vital to them financially, and their fans.

Improving Cowes Sports, but battling at the wrong end of the table, saw their committee opt to make the season null and void.

Yachtsmen boss, Max Draper, said he would be gutted if the season was to officially end, but fully understood the financial implications of doing so.

“If the FA was to null and void the season, it would be tough for me for selfish football reasons, but if the committee decided to opt for that on business grounds, it will be good for the club,” said Max.

“There is no right or wrong answer to this problem.”

Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said he would be gutted if the season ended, but understood why the club’s committee would opt for a ‘null and void’ outcome on business grounds.

Newport, up near the top of Division 1 again, after just missing out on promotion last term due to the first lockdown, have understandably voted to keep the season going, whenever it may start again.

Their boss, Steve Brougham, said: “We have a good, young squad and we’re in with a good shout of going up.”

Newport boss Steve Brougham wants season to continue.

East Cowes Vics, on the other hand, in the lower reaches of the table, voted to end the season — as was the case last term — as null and void.

Vics manager Richie Woodburn said to carry on would be unfair.

“The way the fixtures were drawn, with us having played mostly teams at the top end of the table, it’s not a good situation for us,” he said.

“But if the vote is to carry on, we will do that as benefits can be drawn from any match you play.”

East Cowes Vics boss Richie Woodburn.

The FA Council is understood to be poised to make a decision shortly, based on a recommendation put forward by the body’s Step 5-6 committee.