The last hope that local amateur footballers might be able to salvage something from a second successive virus-hit season have been dashed 'with a heavy heart'.
That was was the phrase used by the board of the South West Peninsula League to describe their decision to drop the idea of an end-of-campaign cup competition - even though a big majority of their 40 clubs were ready to back it.
Thirty-two of the league's 40 teams, which include Axminster Town, Honiton Town, Cullompton Rangers, Sidmouth Town and Elmore, had said they were interested in taking part.
But, despite some lockdown easing by the Government, the SWPL board decided that continuing restrictions on gate/hospitality/refreshment income would not be lifted soon enough to make it practical.
The decision has been received as a wise one, with most leagues at SWPL's level of the English 'pyramid' adopting a similar stance.