Hockey – bosses decide to close season with no winners

SCOTTISH Hockey bosses have confirmed that their season has finished. Play was originally suspended because of COVID-19 in the Premiership, National, Championship and Regional leagues.

A spokesman said all options ere explored but it is now not possible to complete all the remaining fixtures on the pitch. The 2019/20 cup and plate competitions are also scrapped.

The spokesman added: “There will be no winners awarded for season 2019/20 and no automatic promotion or relegation, however, with the majority of leagues completing over 60 per cent of matches, there is clearly a wish for the endeavour of clubs to be recognised.

“Therefore, teams have been given a placing based on their performance up until hockey was suspended. The final league rankings have been determined using average points per match.”

Based on the rankings, Scotland’s European representatives, are Grange in the EuroHockey League, Western Wildcats in the men’s EuroHockey Trophy with Clydesdale Western and Edinburgh University both entered in the women’s EuroHockey Challenge, Division One.

The spokesman added: “We are currently considering the most suitable approach for season 2020/21. The Board of Scottish Hockey recognises that the management committee was not established to operate in these unprecedented times.

“So, it has been determined that the powers of the management committee be suspended at present and that a task force be created.”

It includes members of the board and the management committee and they will consider the organisation’s approach for next season.

Clubs will be consulted to build a route map, aligned to Scottish Government guidance, for the season ahead.