The statement released by the Pitching-In Isthmian League yesterday (Friday) that the trident leagues are proposing to declare the current season null and void was hardly a surprise. It does await confirmation along with the views of member clubs but with no end in sight to the lock down time is clearly running out to squeeze in the significant number of remaining fixtures. We have 31 games to play, others have more.

Supporters will feel an inevitable disappointment but what about players and managers? It is certainly frustrating for Paul Halsey and his team. The 2019/20 season was called off with Ware top of the table and well placed for the final push for promotion. The sense of a missed opportunity pervaded the club but, after a slow start to this season, Halsey pulled together another winning side. When the current season was halted Ware sat third in the table with a game in hand to go top.

Of course, it was early days in the season and the next game was against Tooting & Mitcham who were equally well placed to go top but the missed chance inevitably brings more feelings of frustration. With football not likely to resume until July or August some players will either move on or call it a day. It seems likely that Halsey will already have started planning next season’s squad.

Meanwhile that game against Tooting would have guaranteed us a good gate. Non-league’s ability to admit spectators when the elite game was being played behind closed doors certainly improved attendance numbers at Wodson Park. Instead we have lost the chance to sell the non-league game to a wider audience. Come the new season how many of those extra spectators will return if they have the chance to attend premier league games?