IT MAY come as no great surprise, but the Isle of Wight Saturday League has suspended all football on the Island until next month because of Covid-19.

In keeping with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement of a second lockdown on Halloween night, to start on Thursday, Saturday League officials, supported by the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association (IWDFA), have pulled the plug on all football until at least December 2.

The decision was made independently of the Hampshire FA's position.

The Hampshire FA have yet to make any decision on whether its cup competition finals, carried over from last season amid the first lockdown, are still to go ahead on Saturday — the Intermediate Cup final between Shanklin and Brading Town, and the Hampshire Vase between Brading Town Reserves and Testlands, at Westwood Park, Cowes.

Geoff Ruck, chairman of the IWDFA, said: "It is no surprise at all such a decision was made on the Island League.

"We still await a statement from the Hampshire FA to clarify the position on its cup finals, in light of what is going on at grassroots level."

Five Island League matches were called off on Saturday because of Covid-19.

Tomorrow evening's Sydenhams Wessex League matches — Hamble Club v Cowes Sports in the Premier and Newport v Totton and Eling (at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, 7.30pm) — are still scheduled to go ahead.