Gosport boss Shaun Gale's strong message to 'non-elite' football powers over season restarts

The Gosport Borough boss believes a 'lack of leadership' has been shown surrounding season restarts for teams at step three level and below with the nationwide lockdown lifting on Wednesday.

Despite 'non-elite' football being allowed to resume later this week after a four-week suspension, uncertainty remains over when clubs will return to action.Last week's government three-tier system announcement has made it not financially viable for some teams to restart their seasons.

With matches forced to be played behind closed doors when placed in tier three and restrictions on the sale of food and drink at grounds under tier two rulings, some leagues at step five and six level - including the Southern Counties East League, North West Counties League and East Midlands Counties League - are scrapping scheduled plans to restart this weekend.

Instead, opting to provide a further update when the government review tier measures in two weeks' time.In contrast, leagues at the same level - Essex Senior League and Eastern Counties League - are sticking with plans to resume playing this weekend.

While, at present, a decision has yet to be reached on the restart for teams within steps three and four.

Gosport will have a representative attend a virtual meeting tomorrow as clubs are to cast votes on whether they feel seasons can start again at Southern League, Isthmian League and Northern Premier League level this month.

However, Borough boss Gale insists it's now time someone within the non-league parameters takes 'the bull by the horns' and makes a decision across the board for 'non-elite' clubs.

‘The powers that be who are making these decisions cannot keep putting it on the onus of the clubs, yes they can ask clubs what they want to do, but, ultimately, they’ve got to make some strong decisions for the right reasons otherwise we’re going to lose some football clubs,' said Gale.

‘Someone has really got to take the bull by the horns and make a proper decision.

‘We can’t keep stop-start, stop-start, it’s no good for anyone.

‘I get they’ve got mass problems with how they do it but someone needs to step up to the plate and be brave with it and make a decision.

‘We either suspend the season until the new year and when we know we might be able to have a go at it and the vaccine is coming - I don’t want that to happen, I want to carry on doing what we’re doing.

‘But you can’t keep yo-yo-ing and one minute you’re playing and then you’re not sure then you can have fans and then you can’t. It’s very, very difficult.

‘Of course they are, they are, I get that they are (relying on government decisions) but they still have to stand and make some strong decisions I think.

‘For the welfare of everyone they’ve got to look at the overall picture and say, ‘this is what we’re going to do,’ because you can’t keep stop-start.'

Currently, Gosport are scheduled to return to action after the month-long season suspension with a Southern League Premier South trip to Yate Town on Saturday (December 5).

But with step three and four clubs attending a virtual meeting tomorrow news on whether leagues will be restarting will come later this week.