FA due to meet again as Wessex League chairman explains why he signed a letter of protest after decision to null and void season

Over 150 clubs have put their name to a solicitor’s letter sent to the sport’s governing body asking them to reconsider the decision.

Locally, two Wessex League clubs have signed it - Alresford Town and Hythe & Dibden - and Infinity of the Hampshire Premier League.

Alresford were four points clear at the top of the Premier Division when the season was first halted by the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequently declared null and void.

Hythe were a point clear of fifth-placed Downton in Division 1, and also had four games in hand on the Wiltshire club. The top four clubs were due to win promotion and Hythe were 10 points adrift of leaders US Portsmouth but also with four games in hand on them as well.

Infinity were seven points clear at the top of the HPL, having not lost in 24 league matches.

Alresford chairman Stuart Munro explained why he had signed the letter on behalf of his club.

‘I know football is not the most important thing on people’s minds at the moment, but we do think the FA rushed into their decision.’ he said.

‘Amesbury finished 60 points below us, but we have to play them again next season. I just think that’s wrong, and I’m not being detrimental to Amesbury.

‘Our manager (Rich Luffman) has resigned because he doesn’t want to have another year in the Wessex League.

‘I am still the chairman but I am waiting to see the outcome of the FA’s meeting.

‘My opinion is they should have used points per game (PPG), but I appreciate some people will think differently. I don’t think the FA have an easy decision to make. Whichever way they go they will upset some people.’

Though Alresford would finish top if the FA used PPG, Christchurch would move up from fourth to second above AFC Portchester and AFC Stoneham.

In what would no doubt have been a thrilling title race finale, Alresford were looking good to clinch their first ever Wessex title and promotion to the Southern League.

They had won eight of their last nine games - only losing 1-0 at home to Fareham.

But Portchester and Christchurch had both won six of their previous seven matches, so the title was no foregone conclusion.

Munro said: ‘I think our PPG average would only have increased. Christchurch could have overtaken us if they’d won all their games in hand, but they still had Portchester to play twice, they still had to play Stoneham.

‘They also had to go to Horndean, who I rate as the best footballing side I saw all season.

‘But that’s my opinion. To everything I say I add the caveat that Stoneham, Portchester and Christchurch would also have fancied their chances.’

Alresford only finished mid-table in 2018/19, but had won 22 of their 30 league games after Luffman had added former Gosport Borough pair Craig McAllister and Mike Gosney.

The vastly-experienced ex-professional McAllister started the season at Arlebury Park after a season spent managing Gosport in the Southern League, while Gosney arrived from league rivals Lymington in October.

The Magpies added to their already powerful attack in January when they signed Hawks youngster Ollie Dennett on loan until the end of the season.

Dennett was an immediate hit, and had scored nine times in as many starts by the time the season was brought to a premature end.

‘When myself and Richard came over from Otterbourne we had a three-year plan to be competitive and a five-year plan to win promotion,’ explained Munro.

‘This was the fourth season, so we could have gone up a year ahead of schedule.’

He added: ‘This virus is going to have an affect on non-league football. Some clubs could go to the wall - and that would alter the structure of the pyramid for next season.’

Meanwhile, the chairman of a south coast football club is disappointed many non-league clubs are challenging the move to scrap the 2019-20 season and expunge results.

Burgess Hill chairman Kevin Newell says they are 'willfully ignoring' the fact you cannot predict how the league tables would have ended up merely through using teams' records for the season so far.

The Hillians supremo said: “The decision to void the 2019/20 season was the only viable option if we want to get back to ‘normal’ football when the lockdown ceases.

"As I was part of the Isthmian League Board that made that decision, I was disappointed to see that some clubs want to spend time, and no doubt money, challenging the decision.

“Not surprisingly, most objectors were clubs who thought they had a good chance of securing promotion.

‘With nearly a quarter of the season to play, they seem to be willfully ignoring what we all know – football can and does produce surprising outcomes near the end of the season.

‘Unsurprisingly, none of the clubs in a relegation position wanted to join the challenge!

“There are some plus points too – I’m glad that we no longer have the 7-0 home defeat to Ashford in League records!‘

Alresford had played more than three quarters of their league games - 78 per cent to be exact - by the time 2019/20 was ended.

Wessex Division 1 leaders US Portsmouth had played 77 per cent, while Infinity had completed 80 per cent of their HPL fixtures. All those three clubs’ results have now been declared null and void.

In grassroots rugby, the RFU have honoured promotion and relegation on a points per game basis. As a result, Havant RFC - who had played 86 per cent of their league games - were crowned London 1 South champions.

Petersfield were declared Hampshire Premier winners having completed 87.5 per cent of their fixtures.