SOME key decisions will have to be taken by the eight Scottish Building Society SWPL1 clubs ahead of the 2020-21 season resuming in a fortnight.

As things stand, 14 more games are scheduled to be played between April 4 and June 6, adding to the seven which were completed last year. Details of the games and venues were made public over a week ago.

So far, so simple, but one or two clubs are having serious qualms about the financial implications of playing the fixtures. This is because of the expensive Covid-19 PCR testing which is expected to be mandatory until May 17.

My understanding is that the £50,000 which Scottish Women’s Football received from the Scottish FA – and which they have put towards PCR tests – will only cover the current four-week pre-season period. Thereafter the eight clubs in SWPL1 have been asked to guarantee that they will meet PCR costs of £9,500 from April 5 to May 16, even more than the £8,375 previously estimated.

This will have to be resolved before the season starts and a meeting between the SWF and the clubs is expected to be held towards the end of this week. It would be hugely embarrassing should any club say they are unable, or unwilling, to commit the money likely to be required.

There have also been suggestions that some clubs want the season to end after the first round of fixtures – taking the total to 14 games – instead of the scheduled 21.

But if PCR testing isn’t going to be an issue from May 17 onwards, that seems to be an illogical stance.

What is clear is that there is a sharp division of opinion between the professional clubs and those that don’t have the same resources. The fact that there is no relegation this season – a decision which always had the potential to cause problems – is another reason why some clubs are more motivated than others.

Rangers, Glasgow City and Celtic, who are first, second and third, are adamant about the need to commit to all 21 games. The integrity of the league, they say, is dependent on a full season being played now the suspension of SWPL1 football has been lifted.

As well as being involved in what could be a gripping three-club battle for the title, two Champions League places are available. With plenty to play for, there is the potential to greatly lift the profile of the women’s game in late May and early June especially.

The other side of the coin for the community-based clubs in the league is that £9,750 spent on Covid testing is money that could be put to far more constructive use. These matters should have been resolved before now, and all eight clubs need to be on the same page when the league resumes on April 4.

DESPITE the conflicting views held by some clubs, BBC Alba have broken new ground by committing to initially broadcasting seven consecutive live games between April 4 and May 9.

At a time when spectators still aren’t allowed into grounds, and the profile of the game has plummeted to almost zero, it is a hugely welcome development.

Forfar Farmington may feel aggrieved at being the only club not to feature, especially as the BBC stream of their 2-2 away draw against Celtic in December made for entertaining viewing.

Nevertheless – and again with the lack of relegation throwing up an unnecessary amount of meaningless matches – it is understandable Alba want to concentrate largely on games relevant to the destination of the league title and the Champions League places.

It is also interesting, given the long running stand-off between Rangers and the BBC, that the former have consented to the screening of two live home games against Spartans and Glasgow City. Another welcome development which is surely in the best interests of all involved.

The expected lifting of PCR testing on May 17 should allow the Scottish Building Society SWPL2 clubs to play eight more games and therefore identify which two will be promoted.

If a concession can be wrested from the Scottish government and Joint Response Group, clubs could return to contact training on April 26 with lateral flow testing in place. Games could then start on May 16 with possibly six rounds of fixtures on Sundays and the other two in midweek.

Aberdeen lead the table with 27 points from a possible 30. Dundee United have 20, also from 10 games, with Hamilton and Partick Thistle on 19.