SINCE outdoor team sports were reintroduced as we come out of a third lockdown, debate across local grassroots football followers has raged about the fairness of leading Island clubs taking Wessex players to boost their chances of winning the Isle of Wight’s Division 1 title.

Wessex players with Cowes Sports, Newport and East Cowes Vics became available once their season was declared null and void for a second time.

Isle of Wight County Press: Brading's Aaron Burford, left, who normally plays for Cowes Sports, comes up against W&B forward Matt Evans. FILEBrading's Aaron Burford, left, who normally plays for Cowes Sports, comes up against W&B forward Matt Evans. FILE

We have seen the Island’s top sides, such as Whitecroft and Barton Sports, Shanklin and Brading Town, take full advantage of the sudden surplus of quality players to bolster their sides, as the Island League’s first division title race hots up.

According to the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association (IWDFA) rule book: ‘After March 1, a club can play no more than three players who have already played ten or more matches in a higher grade competition’.

This includes the Wessex League.

No argument there — it’s all in black and white.

Isle of Wight County Press: Newport's Joe Craig has played for W&B since the lifting of lockdown began. FILENewport's Joe Craig has played for W&B since the lifting of lockdown began. FILE

But the main talking point wrangling among many football lovers on the Isle of Wight is not if it is within the rules, but whether the use of Wessex players at this important stage of the season is contrary to the spirit of the competition.

The boss of league leaders W&B, Steve Rayner, said he didn’t know what all the fuss was about.

“We as a club voted for the league not to continue because of Covid — and I still don’t agree with it carrying on,” he said.

“But we have decided to honour the games by carrying on.

Isle of Wight County Press: Ji Nash, of East Cowes Vics, has been starring up front for Shanklin lately. FILEJi Nash, of East Cowes Vics, has been starring up front for Shanklin lately. FILE

“Yes, we’ve got a few Wessex players in — and we’re not the only ones — but we have stuck to the letter of the law.”

Cowes Sports player, Ashley Brett, believes having the extra players available for clubs has been a good thing, with the amount of fixtures that need to be fulfilled each week (three games for most) until the end of the season.

The IWDFA’s honorary secretary, Andrew Justice, disagreed.

“The trouble is we normally don’t have any problem with that rule because the Wessex League would still be playing,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the use of this rule has caught us on the back foot.

“In my opinion, it’s a disgrace clubs are doing this to win the league. It’s putting the competition into disrepute.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. Hopefully, it will be a one-off, but you never know with this blasted virus.

“Of course, there’s a moral obligation to play local league football in the right spirit, but that doesn’t seem to apply to football these days, unfortunately.

“Northwood, to their credit, deliberately didn’t sign anybody because they didn’t think it was fair.

“The management committee will look at the rule again, but it is too late to change it for next season.

“Let’s cross our fingers and hope it doesn’t happen again next season.

“These players will go back to their clubs and the players who have been displaced may go elsewhere.”

Binstead & COB coach, James Connor, said: “I suppose it makes a bit of a mockery of the league.

“More importantly, what about the players in the reserves who couldn’t get in the side? Players could lose interest and think — well, if the club doesn’t care about me, why should I stay?”

On Facebook, Steve Mumford said he would rather see three 16 year olds play, to help their development and boost interest in the game, than three Wessex players.

Retired Island referee Rob Farley echoed those sentiments.

On social media, he posted: “A shake up of the local football scene is urgently required.

“I cannot see the mentality of playing Wessex level players in the Island League. The true Island players will not get a regular game and will lose interest in grassroots football.

“The players brought in demote the true club men, who have been through thick and thin, will be lucky to sit on the subs bench.

“There are also the reserve team players pushed out of a club, as the ‘five-minute wonders’ take over — and who’ll be nowhere to be seen after the cups have been awarded and the medals handed out.

“The Referees Association motto is ‘Service before self’.

“Maybe some of this will rub off and we’ll be able to look forward to better sporting times.”