‘We want to finish the season if possible’ states F&W Chairman, Jardine

Jardine says that the league needs 12 fixture dates to complete the campaign and that the league will take their lead from the IFA.

“I don’t see the need at the moment to take a quick decision when things could change; they might change for the worse or they might change for the better but I just feel that we don’t want to be in the position where we make a decision at this stage that in six weeks time looks hasty or out of kilter.

“At the moment we know that there is no football until April 30, we don’t know though when the lockdown status is going to change but it was the unanimous view of everybody in the emergency committee that we try and finish the season if at all possible and we don’t want to be making decisions when we don’t have to,” he commented.

He does though accept that any decision could be taken out of their hands by the IFA.

“Ultimately, the decision might be out of our hands, the IFA may take an approach across all the leagues and say this is what’s happening and if that’s the case there is nothing else we can do, we have to toe the line,” he commented.

In the Mercer League, Tummery Athletic are currently on course to lift the title for the first time as they have a seven point advantage at the top with six games to play while in Division Two promotion issues have already been sorted with Mountfield and Enniskillen Athletic set to reach the top flight for the first time in short history’s.

And in Division Three, Enniskillen Galaxy and Derrychara United have sealed their promotion with Orchard Farm set to join them.

“We need 12 fixture dates to complete the programme at the moment and that’s based on everything, including the cups.

“We have in the past gone Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday so we have that option and I suppose you have the option of whether you complete the league but not the cup competitions because the cup doesn’t matter to your league position for next year whereas promotion and relegation in the league does,” he said.

Jardine also feels that any decision on resuming the season, if and when that is possible, would have to be in consultation with the clubs.

“You want to be fair to the likes of Tummery who are going for their first title and the likes of Mountfield and Enniskillen Athletic and others but then if it is going to go on too long you have to consider those teams who have nothing to play for; do you fine them for forfeiting?

“My idea would be if we get to the stage where we feel we are able to play then we may need a consultation with clubs and give the clubs options as to what we can do.

“We have to see how many dates it will take to run off the season and is everybody on board. Also is there a date we have to finish by or can we play on into July and would clubs want that.

“What do we do then for the start of a new season, if it does run into July do we push the start of next season back to the first week in September? These are things we would need to address,” he said.

Jardine though stresses that they can do nothing until they have the go ahead to resume playing.

“We just can’t do anything though until we know what’s happening, everything is just hypothetical. Everybody’s health at the moment is critically important, if restrictions are lifted and we can get back playing, then we can make decisions,” he concluded.

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