LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF

Printed in the National League South game v Ebbsfleet United 19th January 2021. We lost 2-0

Will anyone have the balls to put this season out of its misery? A season that has had more games cancelled by covid than a wet weekend in Waterloogedville. 

Slough made the first move by asking for a pause. This could now be a stampede by clubs after being offered loans rather than grants to keep the season going. "We have in the last few weeks ramped up our protocols to the verge of obsessiveness, but we are feeling increasingly uncomfortable in asking our players to take what can only be seen as unnecessary risks. We appreciate the commercial issues and the impact of disruption on the higher leagues. We will fulfil our fixtures but we will do so under duress. We are simply asking The National League to consider the bigger picture with regard to the risk of life and acknowledge that right now, the health and safety of the players and their families is more important than football. This is not a revolutionary proposal - it would merely bring the National League in line with the rest of the country."

Strong words but is it any surprise when elite players now have to be tested weekly except the National League, where many players are part-time and have other work commitments. Why put their families at risk? How many times can they ask their employees for time off if they have to self isolate?

And for what? Does anyone really enjoy football without fans?

Of course, when you put out a statement like that all the social media worms crawl out. I’ve been busy muting the moaners that clog up my twitter timeline. Much better than blocking as they scream into the dark.

Yes, Slough Town are near the bottom of the league but that might also have something to do with only playing 11 games, the majority of which seem to have been against Dartford.

Which is why it was good to get the win against Braintree but the message from joint manager Jon Underwood after the game remained the same: “We shouldn’t be doing this, it’s not safe. I want us to keep winning and going up the table because when you are in the bottom three you’re not allowed to talk about player safety. Things are going to come to a head soon – testing, funding – and we as clubs are being left in the dark.”

Slough the town is now second in the cornona league tables. I would much rather drop points than see anyone needlessly drop dead or end up with the long covid I’ve seen in former fit-as-a-fiddle friends.

I understand why football restarted. Infections were low and we all needed to distract ourselves, but times have changed.

Add into this mix is the National League who have not covered themselves in glory throughout the pandemic.

Hunkering down, refusing to say how they come to decisions that affect all their clubs; they spend more time complaining about people complaining about their decisions than addressing their valid points. It’s a PR disaster masterclass. Look, we don’t want to know what size socks you wear, but it would make things a whole lot clearer with a bit of honesty, transparency and humility. We know the pandemic goal posts keep moving, just put your hands up and say how difficult it is. 

While pandemics aren't new to humanity, they are new to us. It's turned everything upside down but the survival of Slough Town is the name of the game not the 2020/21 season. For so long we were a financial basket-case, why threaten all that hard work now by taking on loans? 

I can’t wait to see everyone again on the terraces, in the pubs and on the trains for a pre match get together. Unfortunately football still hasn’t had a jab of sensibility shoved up its leather football but I can wait to gorge myself when the time and conditions are right.

Maybe that won’t be too long thanks to the wonder of science, international co-operation, ingenuity and working at the speed of light to discover a vaccine or two. 

But the news that the only funding available will be in loans rather than grants, is surely the final nail to end the season. 

Maybe the National League just need to look to Fred Astaire for some inspiration....and call the whole thing off.