In a statement released on Sunday evening, chairman Russell Le Feuvre said: ‘We have informed the Combined Counties League, English FA and all of our December opponents.
‘Everyone we have spoken to appreciates our need to try to help protect the health and safety of our players, management team and fellow Islanders.
‘With the current season now being extended until the end of May, we are not withdrawing from the league and we are still hopeful of completing the season. We will keep you posted of any fixture news and developments for the month of January in due course.’
Jersey Bulls’ last match was at Ash United on 26 September. With England suffering from a second wave of Covid-19 infections and with increased travel restrictions to and from Jersey, a decision was made by Jersey Bulls to suspend their season during the month of October.
The UK government then imposed a month’s lockdown in November to help manage the crisis that included a further suspension of non-league and grassroots football. That lockdown was lifted last week and the Combined Counties Football League Division I resumed play on Saturday with the notable absence of Bulls.
With the Island now suffering from its own crisis in the pandemic, with daily record numbers of infections, the club have felt they were not in a position to fulfil any scheduled fixtures until the new year at the very least, with most sport in Jersey also having suspended their seasons, with only hockey and shooting continuing.
Jersey Bulls have played only four league games this season, with the vast majority of the division’s other teams having already played ten or 11. However, last month the English Football Association agreed to extend the season until the end of May to allow clubs more time to complete the backlog of fixtures and they are now considering a request to extend that further into June.
Meanwhile, new club Isle of Man FC have followed Guernsey FC in withdrawing from the English League System for the remainder of the season. The Manx club had joined the North West Counties League but due to Covid-19 strict restrictions on the island, the club had yet to play a league game. The club aims to start competing next season having been assured membership by the league.
