The FA are still a bunch of twits
It was former England, Arsenal and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole (right) who labelled the Football Association ‘a bunch of twits,’ or something very much like it, almost a decade ago.
Cole was forced to apologise for his comments which were made at the time of John Terry’s racism trial, but he wasn’t wrong then and nothing has really changed.
It’s simply baffling how the FA can decide to scrap all football from step 3 down and pretend the 2018-19 season never happened.
I’ve just read the statement the FA put out justifying their decision to void the season with no promotions and relegations and they seem to be passing the buck to competitions and individual clubs.
They ignore the 200 signatures on a petition (pleasingly signed by Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony) calling on them to reverse the decision and obviously they don’t admit what seems blindingly obvious to me, that they’ve taken the decision that causes them the least hassle.
I feel sorry for Peterborough Sports who were on the verge of achieving something miraculous this season and I feel sorry for my club Netherton United, and indeed any keen followers of the Peterborough League, who have been denied the chance to see who would win the most exciting Premier Division title race in years.
But I feel most sorry for the likes of Jersey Bulls who competed in the Combined Counties League this season at great expense as they took responsibility for all costs incurred by teams travelling to the island.
They’d already won their division by a street and they’ll probably win it by a street again next season, if they can find the motivation.
Will the FA reimburse Jersey after letting them waste their time for the last nine months? Of course not and Jersey are not the only example of a lowly club let down by the shallow-thinkers who run football.
Nearer to home Bugbrooke St Michael had lost just one of 29 United Counties Division One matches.
But they’ll still be playing at that level next season, below Pinchbeck United who will remain, rather unjustly, in the Premier Division after picking up just six points in 27 games.
I’m not a fan of awarding promotion on a points-per-game-played basis as some teams chasing glory or battling against despair would have easier fixtures still to play than their rivals.
But it annoys me greatly that the FA took their decision remarkably quickly, claiming clubs wanted early clarity.
I’m sure that’s true of clubs in mid-table with nothing to play for and true also of teams doomed to the drop.
It’s only mid-April now. Professional football expects to be back in the middle of May so why can’t step 3 clubs and below do the same?
There’s always a way if there’s a will.
Sadly the FA have chosen the easy way out. They’ll have their feet up now. There’s now not even a need to re-organise football’s pyramid. How convenient,