Moneyfields Reserves boss: The FA could have waited a bit longer before declaring season null and void

Moneyfields Reserves in action during their recent Hampshire Trophy semi-final loss to Brading Town. Picture Ian Hargreaves

But he admitted clubs have little choice but to accept the outcome reached by the football authority in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The FA announced earlier today that all divisions below National League level in English football have been expunged.

As a result, there is no promotion or relegation this season.

O'Reilly's men were unbeaten in 14 Hampshire Premier League Division 1 matches this term, winning 13 and drawing the other. Though they were second when the season was brought to an abrupt end, they were only three points behind leaders Denmead with six games in hand.

But rather than dwell on the decision reached, the Moneys reserve boss is already looking ahead to next season - whenever that may arrive.

‘I’m a bit shocked - they (the FA) could have waited a little bit longer to see what would have happened a little bit further down the line before they made this decision,’ he said.

‘Granted, football is not the be all and end all of what is going on because it’s terrible what is going on with the coronavirus.

‘But there could have been a little bit more time waiting to see if we could have finished the season.‘We’ve just had the directive so far.

‘I think the league have asked for any questions.

‘But other than us fielding our personal questions as to what may happen, I’m not sure.

‘It’s very disappointing.

‘There was a lot of hard work put in by all the players, staff and the club to try to get us in a position to get promoted.

‘We’ll gather all the lads together again once the coronavirus and everything is finished.

‘Hopefully, we can keep the same group of players together and go again next season.'

Understandably, O'Reilly and all at the club would have liked the season to have been completed on a points-per-game basis.

But given the current unprecedented predicament, he acknowledged it would have been impossible to satisfy everyone.

‘I understand a lot of other teams were happy to null and void the season for various reasons,’ he added.

‘We were more than 75 per cent of the way through the season, some teams had played nearly all their games.

'That’s what we would have liked to have seen happen (points-per-game outcome).

'It is what it is.'