Double boost for US Portsmouth – FA Vase to restart and FA to look at restructuring that could lead to promotion

Callum Glenn, right, celebrates with Harry Bedford, after US Portsmouth's FA Vase third round win against Millbrook in December. The Vase is now set to restart in April. Pic: Daniel Haswell.

The club’s FA Vase campaign will restart in April - they are due to host Christchurch in the last 32 - and there is fresh hope regarding a non-league restructure that could see USP promoted.

The FA last night announced, to no huge surprise, that there will be no more league games at steps 3-6 of the non-league pyramid in a pandemic-wrecked 2020/21 campaign.

But Turnbull hopes ‘a distinct change of language’ could result in USP being handed the Wessex promotion they crave.

The governing body controversially declared the previous season, 2019/20, null and void last March.

Last night, the FA declared this term ‘curtailed with immediate effect, with no further league matches taking place this season.’

They also said they will ‘revisit discussions around a potential restructure at Steps 4-6 of the NLS, which was previously agreed and has been on hold

since the 2019-20 season.’

Under the restructuring proposals, agreed in early 2019, the top four teams in the Wessex League Division 1 would be promoted to the Premier.

Last season, USP were top when the season was null and voided and this term they are fourth. Over the two seasons, they are top on a points-per-game basis.

With the FA making no mention of null and voiding 2020/21, and a desire to ‘revisit’ the restructure now made public, Turnbull is optimistic.

‘That distinct change of language is going to be important,’ he said.

‘I would like to think however the FA look at it - whether it’s ‘Glenn’s a jolly good bloke’ or PPG - we would be in the mix.

‘We were top last season and we’re third on PPG this season.’

In 2019/20 USP were seven points clear at the top, and 11 points ahead of the fifth-placed team, with only eight games remaining when the campaign was null and voided.

This term, Laverstock & Ford are eight points clear having won 11 and drawn three of their 14 games.

‘I imagine Laverstock will be sat at home feeling dejected,’ said Turnbull. ‘They will feel exactly how I did last year.’

All 39 Wessex League clubs replied to the FA’s survey asking how they would like to see 2020/21 brought to a close.

Of them, 59 per cent voted for null and void, 12 per cent for an August restart and 29 per cent for another option.

Among the other options were ending this season via a PGG methodology or adopting the Project Non-League proposal of PPG from the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons combined.

Overall, across steps 3-6, 76 per cent of clubs voted to null and void - a figure Turnbull said was ‘massively disappointing’ - if the season could not be restarted before April 1.

Boris Johnson said on Monday that outdoor team sports could not return until March 29, and the FA subsequently said that steps 3-6 could not extend their seasons into June.

Though there will be no more league games, the Vase is restarting in April.

There are still five rounds to play before the final - the third, fourth, fifth, quarter finals and semi-finals.

With the first Euro 2020 game at Wembley on June 13, the FA will almost certainly want the Vase final played in May.

That can easily be done. Starting with the three outstanding third round ties on April 10 - including Fareham’s trip to Plymouth Parkway - ties could be played on five successive Saturdays, ending with the one-leg semis on May 8.

The final could then be played at Wembley on the weekend of May 22/23 - either side of the FA Cup final and the Championship/EFL play-offs.

Turnbull said: ‘It’s good that we’ve got something to aim for.

‘Ideally we’d like at least a fortnight’s training and a friendly before we play Christchurch.

‘We’ll need to hit the ground running because they’re a good side.

‘I saw on Twitter a few Christchurch fans saying they can now look forward to reaching the last 16.

‘Good, that’s my team talk sorted!’

USP will look to arrange a friendly against Gosport or Moneyfields if possible.

‘Dave Carter might also want a game so he can have a look at what Portchester players he’s got,’ said Turnbull.