As things currently stand, the WoSFL Board’s considerations are thought to be centred around no more than a trio of Premier Division outfits, Clydebank, Darvel and Irvine Meadow, reputedly the only Tier Six clubs on the verge of being awarded an SFA licence and becoming eligible (if also emerging as WoSFL Champions) for taking part in the Lowland League play-offs.

Answering every question posed of them by strict SFA Licensing criteria has fuelled the ambitions of all three title challengers however there remains a more than distinct possibility of whichever of them finishes top of the pile still fluffing their lines in light of Lowland League rules dictating the one promotion place on offer will be awarded to the winners of three match round-robin play-off between the respective Champions of the West of Scotland League, East of Scotland League and South of Scotland League.

Currently heading up the SoSFL are Stranraer Reserves, ineligible for promotion into the Lowland League, whose retaining top spot till the end of season would culminate in a home and away shoot-out between the WoSFL and EoSFL kingpins.

What looks a more straightforward assignment on paper for the eventual WoSFL Champions could prove to be a play-off route fraught with difficulties according to journeyman defender Terry Hewitt, currently on the books of East Region outfit Sauchie Juniors.

The powerful centreback, able to number Neilston, St Rochs, Blantyre Vics, Thorniewood United, Cumbernauld United, Sauchie and Bo’ness United and Rutherglen Glencairn among his former clubs, only moved back East in November last year after falling out of favour with Glens gaffer Willie Harvey.

He recalled: “My contract was up at the end of December and I can only think Willie bombed me out of his plans because I couldn’t agree terms with him on a new one.

“Word of my availability soon got out and former club Bo’ness made it clear they were very keen on me re-joining and I also held talks with Linlithgow Rose boss Brown Ferguson on a move there but I previously had really enjoyable spell at Sauchie , playing under Fraser Duncan ,so his return to the club as manager and expression of interest in signing me again was a deal clincher.

“His departure to work out in Dubai was the only reason I left Sauchie in the first place as they are a club with a wonderful set up and loyal fan base. .

“Unfortunately my return coincided with some weather-enforced match postponements so I’ve only managed to play a couple of games, the last of them a 2-1 victory over Crossgates Primrose, before the Covid -19 suspension of lower league football came into place.

“Bedding in has not been too problematic because Fraser has also brought back a number of my former team mates and the team is stringing some decent performances together  after a poor start to our league campaign with the win over Crossgates extending our unbeaten run to five games.

”There’s no denying our league position is not the best and we won’t be one of the title challengers but a top half of the table place is not beyond us if football at our level is ever given the  green light to restart.”    

Hewitt’s all too limited playing time since his transfer  has so far prevented him coming up against any of  the EoSFL leading lights …current frontrunners  Tranent Juniors hold a five point lead over nearest challengers Jeanfield Swifts, themselves a point clear of  a three strong chasing pack of Linlithgow, Musselburgh Athletic, and Lothian Thistle.

The 32-year-old insisted, “Regardless of who wins the WoSFL, to get carried away and be  thinking the hard bit of the job is done has to be a total no-no.

“The guys in our dressing room say Tranent are a really good football playing side and are very ambitious as shown by their signing last season of  former Hearts and Rangers midfielder Ian Black.

H’s no longer there after leaving to join Dunbar United but Tranent have replaced him with other ex-Seniors and though not recognised through in the West as one of the feared East Region sides, the very fact they remain unbeaten this season speaks volumes about the dangers they could pose in any play off head-to-head.

“They don’t have an impressive track record as such so a few doubts remain on whether they can hang on and finish atop the pile but most people through here believe Tranent’s points advantage presents too much of a gap for the big name chasing sides of Linlithgow and Musselburgh to close which leaves the even lesser known Jeanfield Swifts as their only real threat.”

Springburn based Hewitt , never one to shy away from committing himself out on the pitch,  refused to take sides when asked which eligible WoSFL team  might eventually qualify for the Lowland League play off.

He reasoned , “ If the go-ahead is given to resume playing then  you have to think Clydebank are in a very good position but they have still to face both Irvine Meadow and Darvel so a lot will rest on those head-to heads.

“Not having played against any of them this season doesn’t leave me best placed to make predictions but what I do know is the experienced  squad of players put together by Michael Kennedy at  Darvel will take a bit of beating.”