‘Everyone at every club has got people that put so much effort in, it can’t just go to null and void’

Glenn Turnbull admitted it would be 'gutting' if the authorities chose to null and void the season following the coronavirus crisis.
Dec Seiden, right, in action for US Portsmouth against Romsey this season. Picture: Ian HargreavesDec Seiden, right, in action for US Portsmouth against Romsey this season. Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Dec Seiden, right, in action for US Portsmouth against Romsey this season. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

There is currently a blanket ban on all football in England and the US Portsmouth boss is now uncertain as to whether his team will be promoted this term.

The RFU have taken the step to cancel the season for all leagues - except the top flight - in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Should the football authorities in this country go the same way, it could mean results this campaign are wiped out and teams start again in the same division in 2020/21.

That would deal a major blow to Wessex League Division 1 leaders USP, who are seven points clear at the top.

But Turnbull believes even clubs who are not fighting for promotion or battling against relegation would not want 2019/20 to be completely wiped away.

‘It would be absolutely gutting that so much effort that everyone has put in from the players, to the backroom staff to the secretary and the tea lady,' he said.

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‘Everyone that has put all that effort in for nothing would be gutting.

‘Everyone at every club has got people that put so much effort in, it can’t just go to null and void.

‘It just seems mad. If it’s null and void, does it bring into account cup runs? Does that then cease?

‘That could devastate clubs.

‘Anything other than null and void I would be happy with because it does good for United Services.

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‘But I’d like to think that even if it wasn’t the case, I’d still think like that.'

But no matter what the final outcome is, Turnbull insisted everyone at the club can hold their heads high.

He admitted his squad should be 'proud' of how far they've come across the campaign.

‘Myself and Fraser (Quirke) started our planning for this season all but a year ago, Turnbull reflected.

‘I sent a message to the boys to try to stay positive.

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‘We’ve set ourselves up to improve the club on and off the pitch.

‘We’ve achieved that and we should all be really pleased with what we’ve achieved.'

In addition to USP being top of the Wessex Division 1, the club’s reserves are well clear at the top of the Wyvern Combination East.

In their last game before all grassroots football in England was suspended, they became the first local area club to score a century of league goals.

A 9-0 home thrashing of Folland Reserves took US through the three-figure barrier - they now have 103 goals in only 17 league games.