Whitchurch Alport manager Luke Goddard has shared fears the current season – suspended because of a second national lockdown – may not resume until the New Year.

All non-elite football is on hold until at least December 2 but Goddard thinks a more realistic target is January or February as coronavirus cases continue to increase across the country.

Goddard also insisted the players would be in no condition to resume playing immediately after the end of lockdown and clubs would need a period for training.

“I personally don’t see how we can pick up where we left off after a minimum four week break,” he said.

“We had a full pre-season programme to prepare for the 2020-21 campaign and across that we also had training sessions to keep the players reasonably fit. What sort of condition would we expect them to be in if they came back and were expected to play straight away?

“Frankly, it’s a nonsense and it’s not enjoyable at the moment.”

The Reds boss isn’t overly enamoured at the prospect of the season restarting at any time.

“For me, it was the wrong decision to start the season with everything so up in the air,” Goddard added.

“Let’s face it, with localised restrictions leading to multiple postponements already, I don’t hold out much hope that things will improve even if we wait until after Christmas to start up again.”

Goddard is still unhappy that his side were forced to play at Warrington Rylands recently after asking the North West Counties League to consider postponing the fixture with the home club based in an area of the highest virus restrictions.

Alport travelled with a makeshift squad and ended up on the wrong side of a 7-1 mauling.

“We have some players who work in schools and colleges and they weren’t prepared to risk playing football in an area which had gone into Tier 3 on the day of the game,” he added.

“We asked for help but didn’t get any and yet seven days later the league were allowing clubs to call matches off in light of the impending national lockdown.”