New format for women's football season still undecided as Inverness Caledonian Thistle wait for news
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women have some idea of when they will be able to return to action, but there are still major question marks about what competitive football will look like.
Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) confirmed last week that the 2020/21 Championship season in both the north and south leagues would be ruled null and void.
That decision was taken due to the ever-closing window to fit the rest of the season into, with no elite exemption in place.
Instead, it was agreed to cancel the campaign, and the focus has now shifted to what format 2021/22 will take instead.
There is uncertainty over the proposed National Championship, which would have seen the top sides in the north and south leagues go into a new division below the SWPL Two, because there is no way to qualify for it.
Some teams will also have fancied their chances of getting promotion to the second tier, with opinion split on what should be the next step.
Outdoor contact sport can return for all age groups on May 17, and one thing SWF clubs are in agreement on is that they will need a month of training before feeling comfortable enough to get back playing matches.
That means they are looking at July before a ball will be kicked competitively again, but with so many possibilities still on the table Caley Thistle manager Karen Mason says there is no simple process through to the other side.
All she can do in the meantime is make things as straightforward for her players as she can, as they will have to go along with the decision from the SWF’s league management committee – although she does not expect a resolution any time soon.
“There are almost too many options,” Mason said.
“Because everything has to go through committees, it is very difficult.
“They come to you with ideas, they want your opinions, you go back to them and then it’s another four weeks down the line and things potentially change in terms of restrictions.
“It has been very difficult, it’s a logistical nightmare really because they have to give so much time between each meeting and every decision that gets made has to be ratified by everyone else.
“It is very complicated. It’s all dependant on dates and levels. I try to make it as simple as possible for the girls.”