Caithness amateur clubs are given more time to set out views on shortened summer season
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County league clubs are being given more time to set out their views on whether a shortened Caithness amateur football season should go ahead this summer.
Caithness AFA had planned to hold a Zoom meeting on Monday this week to consider feedback from clubs on the prospects for a scaled-down campaign complying with the latest Covid-19 protocols.
A short questionnaire had been sent out, but the majority of teams had still to respond by the end of last week so CAFA decided to postpone the meeting and it is scheduled for next Monday night instead.
Clubs' views will be taken into account in deciding whether to press ahead with a 2021 county season in a reduced format.
CAFA president Murray Coghill said: “They've been asked if they would be happy to participate in a shortened season.
“The other question is whether clubs have any concerns about complying with whatever protocols might be in place at the time.
“I think it needs to be a unanimous decision – it can't be a majority decision.
“It's not like the North Caledonian League. They were having a vote to restart their season – they had started it and they were voting to finish it.
"Theirs is a different situation. Ours is we either play or we don't play.
“You get some comments saying 'we just want to play football'. We know they want to play football but the Scottish Government is saying this, that and the next and you've got to comply.”
Mr Coghill pointed out that a requirement to keep spectators away from games could be problematic at county level.
“Most of the concerns are about not having any spectators," he said. "How do you control not having spectators? At places like the Dammies [Thurso] or the Upper Bignold [Wick] you can't stop them coming in – they are public parks. You can only ask them.
“If it was a Pentland United versus Wick Groats game there could be 200 or 300 at it. Can you ask them to socially distance?"
He added: "Everything is up in the air until we get the next guidance from the government and through SportScotland."
Mr Coghill also believes it will be wise to keep an eye on the situation in Moray, where rising numbers of positive Covid cases have been reported.
“When you see what's happening in Moray, in the Elgin area, that could be up here next week,” he warned.
Mr Coghill said recently that any CAFA fixture list for this summer would be on a round-robin basis with clubs all playing the same number of games, and with no promotion or relegation.
The North Caledonian League is due to restart on May 22, to be concluded by late June.
Thurso and Halkirk United are fourth and fifth respectively in the six-team top division, both on seven points. The Vikings have five fixtures still to play, while the Anglers have just three remaining.
Invergordon are top with 13 points from their opening five fixtures.
