CLUB & PLAYER WELFARE IS KEY

Football can be predictable. We bemoan  the lack of money that trickles down from the Premier League. We rail about travelling distances and times. And we almost always see calls to extend the playing season due to weather-induced postponements.

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It happens every year in various areas of the country, and this season is no different. And it's entirely understandable too. In regions like the north-east and south-west, hardly a week has passed since October without one of more fixtures being lost to the rain. Every week the Met Office seem to announce a new storm and warn us all to head for the hills.

This has been the eighth wettest winter on record, but most clubs have managed to get games on thanks to herculean efforts of volunteer ground staff and good pitch maintenance. Despite that, some clubs now have a lot of games to play in a relatively short period of time.

In many respects, it's hard to defend not extending the season. Player welfare is hugely important, as is the wear and tear on fans' pockets, but it's not the only factor.

It's not that the playing season can't be extended. Some Step 5 and 6 leagues have been granted a small extension to May 11 to complete their fixtures. However, it's not an easy decision for the FA and Leagues to make, and here's the reasons why.

• FA player contracts expire on the first weekend in May, so new terms of engagement have to be reached with contracted players for them to feature in play-off games.

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