THOSE who have clamoured for the season to be temporarily suspended during the latest Covid-19 lockdown restrictions will surely have been left with a wry smile on their faces by League chairman David McKenna’s take on their arguments.

McKenna, who has remained silent since Nicola Sturgeon announced the new lockdown measures, surfaced at the weekend after a damning statement issued by Lowland League outfit Dalbeattie Star that followed an earlier letter penned by Maybole club manager Carlo Walker.

With both clubs calling for a temporary cessation of all Tier Six footballing activities until February 6, McKenna has said games will continue to be played until the Scottish government advice says differently.

However, only last Thursday afternoon, national clinical director Jason Leitch stated during his televised address: “Only the footballing authorities could decide on any suspension…that is a decision for them not us.”

If this was not confusing enough, the SFA, whose stewardship of the game is being called into question, have themselves passed the buck in stating they are leaving it to league administrators to decide for themselves.

This impasse could come to a head over the next few days if other clubs come out in support of Dalbeattie and Maybole’s duty-of-care pleas to call a three-week halt to training and playing.

WOSFL approval was granted for Maybole to send an e-mail to all member clubs but even if there is insufficient backing for their proposals, McKenna and the WOSFL Interim Management Group could still find themselves at a crossroads next weekend if Maybole decide to pull out of their game at home to Renfrew in a scheduled Conference A fixture.

Among those looking on with more than a passing interest as events unfold is Tommy Sloan, arguably the most successful manager in Junior football history after steering Auchinleck Talbot to an astonishing seven Scottish Junior Cup triumphs, a record which is unlikely to be equalled.

Sloan, 56, has admitted he is badly missing his normal touchline beat on Saturday afternoons but believes the Ayrshire club’s decision to officially withdraw from the WOSFL last October has proved to be the right one.

“You didn’t have to be clairvoyant to foresee the situation over training and playing games in the dead of winter was going to bring its own set of problems. It was bad enough asking players to change outside because dressing rooms do not conform to Covid-19 rules back in the summer months, but to do so in the below freezing temperatures of the last couple of weeks beggars belief and I’m just glad not to have the headache of dealing with it.

“It’s fair to say not everyone in our dressing room wanted to sit things out and we’ve gone along with loan deals brokered by Lowland League clubs taking Andy Leishman, Craig McCraken and Jamie Glasgow [to BSC Glasgow], Aidan Wilson [Linlithgow Rose] and Corey Pearson [Caledonian Braves] but right now I’m having serious doubts whether these moves are in their best interests.

“Similarly, we have paved the way for Carlo Walker to land Neil McPherson and Jack McDowall on season-long arrangements so we will need to keep an eye out for their situation changing if Maybole take time out as has been reported.”

Fixtures Saturday January 16

WOSFL Premier Division: Darvel v Beith, Bonnyton Thistle v Rob Roy, Rutherglen Glencairn v Irvine Meadow, Largs Thistle v Hurlford Utd, Cumbernauld Utd v Rossvale, Clydebank v Blantyre Vics, Kilwinning Rangers v Troon.

WOSFL Conference League A: Maryhill v Kello Rovers, Craigmark v Muirkirk, Maybole v Renfrew, Ardeer Thistle v Bellshill Athletic, Glasgow University v Annbank Utd, St Rochs v Ashfield.

WOSFL Conference League B: Neilston v Johnstone Burgh, St Cadocs v Vale of Leven, Lugar Boswell v Forth Wanderers, Irvine Vics v Carluke Rovers, Gartcairn v Wishaw.

WOSFL Conference League C: Drumchapel Utd v Yoker Athletic, Kilsyth Rangers v Thorniewood Utd, Lanark Utd v Newmains Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v St Anthonys.