One particular non league club unfortunately have to announce that their league membership has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
FC Isle of Man has withdraw from this season’s North West Counties League in their first ever season, however the club had yet to play a league game.
The club aims to compete in the league next campaign and has been assured membership next season by the NWCFL, which also had Bury AFC as one of it’s member clubs.
FC Isle of Man announce that following ongoing discussions with The North West Counties Football League that both parties have decided that The Ravens’ playing membership in the NWCFL Division One South will be suspended for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
Both the League and FC Isle of Man have attempted to delay this decision for as long as possible, but after much consideration and taking into account the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, both in the UK and on the island, it has been agreed to allow the club a temporary suspension of it’s playing membership until the end of the current season.
This decision allows the NWCFL to concentrate on resolving the ongoing fixture issues for the remaining member clubs in the context of the new Tier rules within England to ensure that the league can be concluded by 31st May 2021 as per the directive of the Football Association.
The NWCFL have confirmed that there is no risk to FC Isle of Man’s place in the NWCFL league and that the club retains its place as a member of the NWCFL for the 2020/21 season.
Following ongoing discussions with @nwcfl both parties have decided that our playing membership in Div 1 South will be suspended for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
Full details at the link below.https://t.co/Z2b3BgJwc9
— FC Isle of Man (@FCIsleOfMan) December 7, 2020
Paul Lawler, Chairman of The North West Counties Football League, said:
I would like to thank the Committee of FC Isle of Man for their continued communication throughout the pandemic. We are all disappointed that they have been unable to fulfil their ambition to begin life in the National League System due to circumstances beyond all of our control.
We look forward to their first competitive League game in 2021/22 when hopefully the pandemic is over and normality is restored.
Paul Jones, FC Isle of Man Director of Football stated:
This decision is a sensible one from both the League and our club’s perspective. The ongoing travel restrictions both here on the island and in the UK mean that it is unlikely that we would complete all required fixtures by the end of May 2021. Our temporary playing suspension from the League will allow the NWCFL to prepare the remaining fixtures for league and it will allow us as a club to continue the organisational, structural and administrative preparations required to place the club in an even better position in preparation for the start of the 2021/22 season.
We wish all other members clubs the very best for the remainder of the season and we look forward to meeting them properly and hosting their teams and supporters on the island next season.
Fans reacted as a club announce that their league membership has been suspended…
It’s a real shame but probably the correct decision having not played a fixture yet!
— Peter McGuane (@PeterMcGuane) December 7, 2020
Makes sense for them with no games played this season. Let’s hope some of ud can crack on with some games in the New Year. 32 games to play in 5 months without too much more interruption is feasible for us.
— glyn jarvis (@glynjarvis1) December 7, 2020
See you next season Ravens! 🤞
— AFC Darwen (@AFCDarwen1) December 7, 2020
Tough call guys, stay fit and well keep rolling and let’s hope we see you next season@St_MartinsFC
— Nick durman (@nick_durman) December 7, 2020
Falklands and St Helena aren’t easy or affordable to get to or from at the best of times and these certainly aren’t the best of times for travelling. A mini-league with @jersey_bulls and @GuernseyFC would be pretty cool, but unrealistic at the moment, but we can hope.
— Danny 🇪🇺 (@DannySherms) December 7, 2020
Yeah fair enough, I know there’s regular flights from the Falklands. But St. Helena is probably impossible. I think there’s an ‘air bridge” between the channel islands and IoM since they have similar restrictions in place so there’s no lockdowns on the islands, guess we’ll see!
— Richard C. Phillips (@RichardConroyP1) December 7, 2020
Sensible decision, looking forward to meeting you next season. https://t.co/akeeh0o8zb
— Wythenshawe Amateurs (@wythenshaweafc) December 7, 2020
Great shame as so much effort had gone into preparing for their first season. Lovely little all-seater stadium as well. https://t.co/YVEBjOMQwN
— Ellis Harvey (@ellisrv) December 7, 2020
That’s gutting for them https://t.co/PX4SSucgRk
— Duncan Browne (@DuncanBrowneJPI) December 7, 2020
Sad to hear about the club ‘s league membership being suspended in your debut season. Fingers crossed next season will be much better for yourselves
— Jason Lee 🇬🇧 (@ForeverAYellow) December 7, 2020
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