Club Statement
WITHDRAWAL FROM WOSFL FOR 2020/21 SEASON
It is with deep regret that Cambuslang Rangers Football Club have decided to submit our intention to withdraw from the West of Scotland Football League for Season 2020/21.
The Club can confirm it voted to delay the start of the campaign to a later date when the situation we are in has improved as well as its intention to withdraw from the competition for the season if a decision to start on October 24th was made. Unfortunately despite more than 46% of the clubs voting to delay the start, the league have now confirmed that October 24th will be the start date. There are a number of reasons which have forced us into making the decision to withdraw as a result of what we feel is a premature start which are stated below.
Health and Safety
The primary reason why we believe that the season should not be commenced is the health and safety of players, staff, officials and committee members traveling all across the West of Scotland during a worldwide pandemic. Players and refereeing officials would have no access to basic essentials such as changing facilities and we believe that we have a responsibility for the care of our players’ wellbeing and are not prepared to play without providing such a basic necessity.
Supporters
The Club have been preparing for several months now with the hope that our supporters would be returning for the start of the new campaign in the WOSFL’s inaugural competition, however, with this not being the case we simply don’t feel it would be morally right for us to compete without them on our side. Our supporters, like all clubs at our level, are the lifeblood of our football club and without them we cannot possibly survive. We would also, on a side-note, like to thank them for the wonderful backing they have given us during what has been an incredibly difficult time for everybody and our gratitude cannot be understated.
Competition, Financial Implications & The Vote
Cambuslang fail to understand the competitive merit of a competition which does not facilitate for promotion and relegation following the rigors and sustained efforts across a season. It is baffling that in a season which would likely be without the regular income of gate receipts and the imbalance of expenses afforded to playing staff, non-playing staff, referees and upkeep of facilities that there will be no reward for clubs who are successful. The sustainability of our club is of paramount importance and we will not allow our positive work off the park to be hindered by the restrictions which this season would inevitably cause. We were also astonished by the short notice of making such a decision and were made to feel rushed into making a crucial choice between starting the season now or withdrawing from it until the 2021/22 campaign. As a club, we found neither of these options to be beneficial however, as it transpired, it was essentially one or the other. Clubs were given 24 hours to ponder and decide which we felt was extremely quick with no room to discuss this crucial decision further, particularly because there were differing opinions across the Club’s own committee, non-playing and playing staff.
Finally we understand that other clubs have voted the way they have and would like to wish them all the best for the season ahead and look forward to hopefully seeing some of you in the 2021/22 Season when we hopefully return to some sort of normality.