AFTER a long waiting game, it appears a decision will be made on the fate of the 2020 Limestone Coast Football Association premiership season next week.
The league held a board meeting on Monday night to discuss the latest information from Football South Australia, which outlined the current rules for training and club attendance.
Under the current rules, issued by the South Australian state government, as of Monday a total of 80 people are permitted at a venue, while contact training can take place in groups of 20.
Those restrictions define a “venue” as a one pitch, or multiple pitch facility, but Football SA is pushing for a reassessment to allow 80 people per pitch.
“Personally I do not know how that will work, because not everybody has got two pitches available,” Limestone Coast Football Association president Eric Nieto told The Border Watch yesterday.
“What I feel is these rules are actually being made for the city, where some clubs might have two or three training pitches and a playing pitch.
“Here in Mount Gambier nobody has two pitches.
“It is going to be interesting how all this flows down to us at country league level.”
However, Nieto said a meeting will be held early next week, which will provide the answer everybody has been waiting for.
“We are having a meeting with all the presidents next Monday and the first question on the agenda will be ‘who wants the season to continue’,” he said.
“If they wish to play, then the season will go on, if they do not wish to play, or you lose too many clubs, then the board will make a decision based on that.”
One casualty which appears unavoidable at this stage is the loss of Portland for the 2020 competition – should it go ahead – as border restrictions are unlikely to allow interstate travel in time.
Following Monday’s meeting with club presidents, the LCFA board will discuss the viability of the season ahead and the long-awaited decision will be made.
“We will sit down and look at all the pros and cons of what is good for the league and what is good for everyone in general,” Nieto said.
“From the league’s point of view, we want the game to go on, but we are governed by the government legislation and the clubs as well.”
