Hampshire Premier League ‘seeking clarity’ as to whether they will be allowed to extend season into June

The HPL secretary has so far been presented with an unclear picture of what steps the committee might be able to take and time limit clubs could face to complete the 2020-21 seasons.

Smith revealed how email contact from the Hampshire FA had stated that they would be contacting 'owners and managers of grounds across the county' in a bid to see if alternative venues were available for Hampshire Premier League clubs to continue playing until the end of June.

However, a directive from the national authority, prior to the announcement of the curtailing of seasons from steps 3-6, told how Non-League Feeder Leagues (step seven) were excluded from extending finish dates beyond May.

HPL secretary Smith spoke of his 'frustration' at the current situation with the league remaining unaware at present over what happens next.

And he is unhappy that they will have to wait until a meeting with the Hampshire FA in the week commencing Monday, March 8 to get a definitive answer on how to move forward with the season.

Smith said: 'This is where the confusion arises. We got a letter from the chairman of the Hampshire FA saying they’re talking to all the owners and managers of grounds around the county to see if they will allow football to be continued to be played until the end of June. They’ve sort of put that as it’s going to be the solution.

‘Then the next thing is another directive comes out from London that said clubs at step seven or Regional Feeder League level can’t play in June.

'You’ve got the Hampshire FA saying we’re looking at playing in June and the FA saying you can’t play in June.

‘Clubs and players that have had no football for months on end are keen to know when they can start playing again. My frustration is that I can’t tell them.

‘We’ve got a meeting with the Hampshire FA and they’ll probably issue some directive of what we can and can’t do.

‘It’s just a waiting game and it’s quite frustrating when you can’t give any sort of answer to clubs when they contact you to ask for an update.'

Confusingly, Hampshire Premier League Division One (step eight) should be permitted to carry on into June - but if there’s no promotion and relegation with the Senior Division will they want to?

Smith just wants some certainty so the committee can plan ahead.

He admitted it's highly unlikely the 2020/21 campaign will be able to be completed fully, but is hopeful a solution can be found to avoid a curtailment.

Any decision taken would have to be passed through the league committee and Hampshire FA in order to do so.

He said: 'We want some clarity but we’re going to have to wait until the week commencing March 8 by the looks of it.

‘It’s very doubtful that we can complete the season fully.

‘What a couple of us were trying to do, we’re going to put it to committee in a meeting on Monday, was to try to come up with something where we could get a season, return and play, to constitute a season and finish by the end of May.'