Burgess Hill Town want restart - but only if it's fair to all teams

Burgess Hill Town want to be back playing in the league - but only if it’s fair for all teams.
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Clubs in the Isthmian League will know later today whether it’s all systems go - or whether they will be left kicking their heels for longer.

They have been polled on whether to restart the league as planned from next weekend or whether to wait until the UK’s coronavirus tiers and restrictions make it simpler to play games and welcome fans again.

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John RattleJohn Rattle
John Rattle

At a group call on Tuesday night clubs discussed the pros and cons of playing or pausing, with many different opinions aired.

They have now been asked to vote for or against the following statement: “That Steps 3 & 4 continue the current pause in the season with a regular review in the light of changes to the current tiers and/or grants becoming available.”

Hillians director and general manager John Rattle says the club is ready to go, but wants to make sure it’s fair for all.

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He said: “We want to get restarted but we obviously understand it’s got to be fair for everybody.

“You can’t play in a league if you are not playing everybody on the same terms.

“We want to start back in the league where it is equal for everybody.”

Voting closes at tonight (Wednesday) last night and results were due to be confirmed on Thursday.

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The Hillians start competitive action when they travel to Margate in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night. But Rattle feels for Margate because of the burden put on them by the tier structure.

He said: “We are going to Margate next Tuesday and because they are in Tier 3 it’s behind closed doors. That is obviously causing them concern because they have costs - our costs to meet, the referee’s cost to meet and this is a burden for any non-league club. Our league have always said we won’t return unless fans are allowed in.

“The FA Trophy being an FA competition, that’s not the case.

“We will go there but it will be behind closed doors and we’ll be playing in front of a few stewards.”

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“If that’s a league game scenario is it fair for clubs in tier 3 to play behind closed doors whilst other clubs can have supporters?”

One issue for clubs at Isthmian League level is that divisions involve teams from different Covid tiers - meaning some will have greater difficulties in travelling than others and things will not be even in terms of who can open their ground to fans.

Another issue is that even in tier two - which Sussex clubs are in - clubs cannot open their bars and clubhouses unless they are doing so to serve substantial meals with alcohol.

The league has been on hold since the first weekend of November and fixtures are piling up.

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Meanwhile the Southern Combination League, the level below Isthmian south east, WILL restart as planned, with the first post-lockdown matches planned next Tuesday. Some clubs at that level are in FA Vase action this weekend.

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