Romford chairman Steve Gardener insists it could feel like starting a new season if they don’t return to action until January - which is what he is now expecting.

The Isthmian League was due to meet this week (December 16) to discuss whether they should resume and when but there is a lot of talk suggesting January 9.

The last league fixture Boro played was on October 31, when they drew 2-2 with Bury Town in the Isthmian North.

Gardener said: “It will be like starting the season again, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of clubs will not have the same squad necessarily.

“If a local step 2 club or whatever comes in and says to a Romford player 'dual-register then play for us as we’re still playing', if they go play and impress, then it will be hard to bring them back.

“Most clubs won’t be paying players if they’re not playing, so if they have the opportunity to go play, and to get paid as well, you can see why there is an attraction there.”

He added: “My own educated guess is that it will be in the new year. They won’t send us back on December 19 and if they don’t, the next game back would be Boxing Day.

“I’d say this year more than any other year, players, supporters and volunteers will want to see family at Christmas.”

Gardener admitted all clubs were passionate about their views whether it was in favour or against returning to action.

“Everyone in the conference spoke passionately, but there were quite a few views on what we should do, and the people that wanted to go back were no less passionate than the people that didn’t want to go back and vice versa.

“You’re never going to find something that everyone agrees with. I’ve seen some comments from people on social media saying I don’t know why we don’t just scrap it and wait until the vaccine comes in then start again in August.

“That may well just be a supporter, not someone who is trying to balance the books of a club or keep a squad together.

“Some teams have got off to a flyer to start the season. I’d imagine teams like Canvey Island and Tilbury can’t wait to get back playing, as they were in such a good vein of form.”