Trying to deal with the disruption created from the Indian variant of Covid-19 is turning out to be something of an enduring problem for Paul Kelly.

The St Roch's team boss, preoccupied for the past month or more with organising the Springburn Park Festival of Football (his Garngad club are one of the six participants) is facing up to the rug being pulled from under his feet by Glasgow continuing to be placed under Level 3 lockdown restrictions.

In particular, the ban on all but essential travel in and out of city boundary areas has convinced Kelly to cancel all three contests earmarked to kickstart the eagerly awaited competition later today: Ashfield v Rossvale (11am), St Rochs v St Anthony (2pm) and Rob Roy v Maryhill (4pm).

Speaking before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on lockdown restrictions yesterday, Kelly said: “Day-to-day figures are showing an improvement so there remains the possibility of Glasgow moving to Level 2 but even if this is the case, I don’t see it coming into place until Monday at the earliest.

“It’s a classic 'maybes aye, maybes naw' scenario but it’s unfair to have clubs and players hanging around awaiting a decision. So we’ve took it upon ourselves to call tomorrow off and hopefully we can get the go-ahead next weekend.”

Having no playing action for at least another week will afford Kelly an opportunity to further bed in his latest Candy Rock signings Luke Crerand (ex-Ashfield) and Liam Crichton (Rossvale).

He explained: “Cramming in a few more training sessions will undoubtedly help the guys familiarise themselves with the place. I’m keen to see what they can bring to the table and how the team will take shape now that the brothers Dean and Dan Kindlan have moved to pastures new.”

Meanwhile, the postponement of his side’s planned Springburn Festival joust against Maryhill has prompted Rob Roy gaffer Stewart Maxwell into hurriedly arranging a friendly contest away to Johnstone Burgh today (2pm) - even though his selection hand is beset with Level 3 problems.

One-time Burgh player Maxi admitted: “Nine of our players are unable to take part today because the SFA have stipulated their Glasgow addresses make them ineligible for travelling through to Keanie Park.

“It’s a kick in the teeth but we are carrying a 23-man squad so the door is now open for one or two fringe players to put down markers and play themselves into my thoughts."

He added: “I’ve always been a competitive type, even in pre-season outings, but for the first time ever I’m going into a game thinking that winning is not the be all and end all.

“We’ve not played since before Christmas so today is all about getting players out on the pitch again and allowing supporters to cheer them on.”

Maxi, returning to his former Burgh pastures for the first time since playing alongside the likes of John McLay and Jazz Juttla under legendary team boss George Walker more than a decade ago, says he is looking forward to meeting up with old acquaintances - in particular, long-serving club official Ricky Cantwell.

He said: “Ricky is in his late 60s now and is coming up on his 20th year at the Burgh after serving Renfrew for 22 years.

“He’s one of those remarkable characters that every club needs and is willing to fill any role wherever he’s needed at a given time.

“In fact, I spoke to him on the telephone this week and he admitted to being a bit of president/general secretary/match secretary/groundsman before adding that he would most likely be in charge of the pie and bovril stall come Saturday.”

Their friendly against the Rabs is the forerunner for a testing handful of pre-season games stacking up in front of Johnstone Burgh’s players which sees four consecutive run-outs at Keanie Park before a late June meeting away to Vale of Leven.

The known list of planned WoSFL contests (Covid permitting) is as follows…

TODAY
Johnstone Burgh v Rob Roy (2pm)

26 MAY
Johnstone Burgh v Ashfield (7pm)

29 MAY
St Anthony's v Rob Roy (2pm)
Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers (2pm)
Johnstone Burgh v Cumnock (2pm)

5 JUNE
Rossvale v St Anthony's (2pm)
Neilston v Glenvale (2pm)
Lugar Boswell v Auchinleck Talbot (2pm)
Cumnock v Lanark Utd (3pm)
Bellshill Athletic v Newmains Utd (2pm)

12 JUNE
Glenafton v Kello Rovers (1pm)
Vale of Leven v Greenock (2pm)
Rossvale v  St Roch's (2pm)
Cumnock v St Cadoc's (3pm)

15 JUNE
Dunipace v Rob Roy (8pm)

16 JUNE
Blantyre Vics v Ashfield (7pm)
Lugar Boswell v Kello Rovers (7pm)
Bonnyton Thistle v Girvan (8pm)

19 JUNE
Glenafton v Girvan (1pm)
Blantyre Vics v St Cadoc's (2pm)
Vale of Leven v Glasgow University (2pm)
Carluke Rovers v Bellshill Athletic (2pm)
Johnstone Burgh v Darvel (2pm)
Bonnyton Thistle v Maybole (2pm)
Cumnock v Stranraer (3pm)
Glasgow University v Petershill (2.30pm)

23 JUNE
Johnstone Burgh v Clydebank (7pm)

26 JUNE
Vale of Leven v Maryhill (2pm)
Neilston v Auchinleck Talbot (2pm)
Bonnyton Thistle v Renfrew (2pm)
Newton Stewart v Whitletts Vics (2pm)
Threave Rovers v Cumnock (3pm)

30 JUNE
Ashfield v East Kilbride Thistle (6.45pm)
Vale of Leven v Johnstone Burgh (7pm)