One of the member clubs of the Highland League have told The Reporter they are ready to play after the decision was made to postpone the start of the Highland League season until November 28th.
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Formartine FC say they are ready to play but support the decision made by a League Management Committee on Monday to postpone the league.
Club secretary Mr Bryan Braidwood told The Reporter: “Formartine United FC are already playing non-competitive football matches and will be ready to resume competitive games as and when required.”
SPFL Championship, lower league, and Highland football clubs have been playing a series of friendlies in recent weeks, behind closed doors, to keep players ticking over as covid continues to wreak havoc on football, curtailing the 2019/2020 season and delaying the start of the 2020/21 lower league campaigns.
When asked whether Formartine were willing to play if the original start date had been kept, Mr Braidwood said the decision when to restart the league is not up to them.
Mr Braidwood said: “We’re continuing to be guided by the relevant governing bodies and the Scottish Government. They’ll decide when we can bring spectators back to football grounds.”
League start chaos
“My own club proposed if, come March-February, there was sufficient relaxation in the rules we could play the cups, so there’s some football before the start of next season. We don’t think we’ll be back.”
The football schedule this year has been turned on its head. Seasons usually begin in September but only the Scottish Premier League made that target with the opening round of fixtures played on the first weekend of the month.
This season, the Championship and lower league campaigns begin on October 17th while Highland League and non-league football is still postponed.
The wait goes on as Fraserburgh chairman drops big hint
Formartine FC manager Paul Lawson said he was frustrated by the decision to postpone the start of the Highland League but understood why it was done.
Mr Lawson told the Press & Journal this week: “The question now is how do we adapt? Do we keep training? We’re looking at a number of options and it’s early to decide what we’re going to do.”
Fraserburgh chairman Finlay Noble told the P&J he reckons a league campaign could be completed from January if the weather is kind.
Mr Noble said: “My own club proposed if, come March-February, there was sufficient relaxation in the rules we could play the cups, so there’s some football before the start of next season (2021/22). We don’t think we’ll be back.”
After a recent spike in coronavirus cases and with winter round the corner the Scottish Government has paused the phase return of fans back to stadiums after six hundred fans were allowed to watch Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Celtic, Ross County earlier this month.
The major issue for lower leagues is that they make their money through fans coming to watch games, unlike the SPL which can rely on TV revenue.
Not everyone is totally accepting of the measures, with questions arising around why people can meet indoors in hospitality and not outside, socially distanced, at football stadiums.
Highland League Cup semi-finals will be played
The 2019/20 Highland League Cup semi-finals will go ahead between Brora Rangers and Buckie Thistle, and Formartine and Rothes. Fixtures will be played at Dudgeon Park and North Lodge Park on October 17th behind closed doors, with a streaming service hopefully up and running.
Scottish Conservative leader and qualified SFA referee Douglas Ross is meeting with clubs later this week to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on lower leagues
Highland League secretary Rod Houston is working with the SPFL JRG to put together an appeal to the Scottish Government for funds to help support the lower leagues.
The Joint Response Group was set up by Scottish football to assist clubs during the pandemic and implement safety measures.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 