Hayling United and Locks Heath asked if they are happy to stage lots of midweek games under floodlights in opening months on 2020/21

The league are expecting to start 2020/21 in the first week of September, but that means they have lost the whole of August - and last season eight league games (out of a maximum 30) were played in that month.

To make up for that loss, clubs with floodlights could stage extra midweek games early in the season.

HPL fixtures secretary Derek Hawkins said: ‘Playing every Saturday in September through to the last Saturday in April - apart from Boxing Day and with no cup ties whatsoever - there are only three spare Saturdays.

‘That is not enough, especially if last season's poor weather is repeated!

‘As a League we need to try and free up some extra dates, so I am proposing that all clubs - Division 1 as well - play just one midweek game (6pm kick off) on Tuesday 1st,

Wednesday 2nd or Thursday 3rd September.

‘To try and keep the home/away pattern fairly even, clubs with lights would be playing away

from home for this one-off.

‘That is because during September and October, I am further proposing that the five Premier clubs with floodlights play four or five midweek games to try and partly compensate for the loss of our August games and potentially free up for dates later in the season.

‘If the weather was kind, and we get those early additional games played as I've suggested, we could even have our League Cup start around November/December time.

‘Division 1 only has two floodlight clubs so opportunities here are much more limited which is why they also need to play midweek in the first week of September.

‘Clearly, this plan hinges on the clubs with floodlights - Hayling, Infinity, Locks Heath, Overton and Stockbridge - all being happy with the proposal.’

Hawkins summed up: ‘Please give this serious consideration, even before we kick a football, this is undoubtedly going to be the most difficult season we have ever faced.’

Clubs have been invited to a meeting at Fleetlands next Saturday where the proposals will be discussed.