AFTER a long, hard football season, the curtain eventually came down on the Isle of Wight’s leagues because of coronavirus.

Following a vote by the Island’s 25 clubs and 12 management committee members of the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association (IWDFA), the Saturday League was declared null and void by 18-13, with six abstentions, at a special general meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

Isle of Wight County Press: Pan Sports (in claret and blue) and Carisbrooke United were doomed to relegation from Division 1, until yesterday's vote, at the expense of high-flying Oakfield and possibly Vectis in Division 2.Pan Sports (in claret and blue) and Carisbrooke United were doomed to relegation from Division 1, until yesterday's vote, at the expense of high-flying Oakfield and possibly Vectis in Division 2.

It means clubs like Whitecroft and Barton Sports and Brading Town could not end their titanic battle for the Division 1 title and that the seemingly doomed Carisbrooke United and Pan Sports would not fall through the trap door, with Division 2 champions-elect, Oakfield, denied a nailed-on promotion and new club, Vectis, comfortably in second place, a golden opportunity to go up at the first time of asking.

Isle of Wight County Press: Reining Division 1 title holders Whitecroft and Barton Sports (in red) were top when the season was wiped out by a vote to end the season yesterday (Wednesday). FILEReining Division 1 title holders Whitecroft and Barton Sports (in red) were top when the season was wiped out by a vote to end the season yesterday (Wednesday). FILE

It was a different story in the IWDFA’s cup competitions.

Other than the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup and the Isle of Wight Memorial Cup, in its centenary year, clubs and officials voted overwhelmingly, 28-3, with six abstentions, in favour of continuing the Isle of Wight Challenge Cup and the Junior A and B Cups.

Isle of Wight County Press: Brading Town (in red) had the Division 1 title in their hands. FILE Brading Town (in red) had the Division 1 title in their hands. FILE

The three cups will continue because they are all, or nearly all, at the semi-final stages.

The competitions are to be concluded in pre-season, or as early as the coronavirus situation allows, said Andrew Justice, the association’s honorary secretary.

Carisbrooke United manager, Reg Moul, said of the league vote: “It has given us breathing space to rebuild and hopefully come back stronger than last year."

Isle of Wight County Press: Carisbrooke United manager Reg Moul was planning for life in Division 2, until the club was spared the axe with the controversial season-ending vote.Carisbrooke United manager Reg Moul was planning for life in Division 2, until the club was spared the axe with the controversial season-ending vote.

Oakfield co-manager, Gary Gee, was left bitterly disappointed by the outcome of the vote.

Gary said: “We put together a side with the aim of going up — and were almost there — so to have it snatched away from us is very disappointing.”

For the full story, see tomorrow's edition of the County Press.

#Stay Safe #Protect the NHS #Stay at Home