Lancashire FA plan for county cup finals and possible promotions and relegations

With the 2019/20 campaign brought to a premature close due to the coronavirus crisis, it appeared those clubs who had reached a prestigious final would miss out.

However, LFA chief executive officer Simon Gerrard believes there is scope to hold the 21 county finals later in the year, as pre-season showpieces or in the early part of next season.

Gerrard said: “It depends on when the new season starts and we would also have to look at how far into the new season we would go before we just say, ‘Look, we are going to have to cancel the county cups finals from the 2019/20 season’.

“But it’s a case of wait and see. If football is back up and running by July, then we can play them as pre-season games and they would be nice showcases.

“Obviously no decision has been made but we are planning for all of those different scenarios. There is an eco-system of football which needs balancing out.”

Last Thursday, the FA ratified its decision to declare the non-league season null and void and all levels below the two-tier National League.

But the LFA have given leagues at grassroots and juniors levels the option to implement promotion and relegation if they wish by producing final league tables based on average points-per-game.

Gerrard said: “Some leagues are consulting with their clubs and are going to hold a special meeting for clubs to vote on what they want to do.

“The leagues are autonomous bodies and they will decide themselves how they want to go forward.”

Gerrard admitted it was an unprecedented time in football, with the LFA trying to ensure that clubs do not fold under the financial strain.

Gerrard added: “We’ve had to furlough three-quarters of our staff. We have also had to put a stop to many of our coaching activities.

“We have recently refurbished our premises and were looking to generate some more commercial revenue through people using the building more and more. We would then pump that money back into supporting the grassroots game .

“But all that has been affected and we are having to manage things very carefully.”

Gerrard says the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on football right across the spectrum.

“I just hope all our senior and professional clubs can finish their seasons, and I hope the losses within those clubs are not too significant and they can continue to trade,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I do believe that some clubs could really struggle with this moving forward, both in the professional game and at the grassroots.”

One cup competition definitely going ahead is in the North West Counties League.

The NWCL launched its Twitter Cup over Easter, involving all 60 of its clubs, including AFC Blackpool and Squires Gate.

This virtual tournament will be played out on social media, with each tie determined by votes cast on Twitter.

Each club will complete three group games over the coming week, with the qualifiers proceeding to the knockout stages and building to a final on May 2.