NEILSTON are set for at least another two weeks off the pitch as the Scottish FA announced that the current suspension of football is to be extended until at least the beginning of March.

All clubs below the Championship have not been permitted to play games or train together since January 11, after a surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

Despite an improvement in case numbers and the vaccine continuing to be rolled out, the SFA were informed by the government that the proposed return date of February 14 could not be fulfilled.

A statement from the SFA released last week said: “In recent weeks, the Scottish FA has engaged extensively with clubs and leagues affected by the suspension of professional football across the men’s and women’s game to discuss tailored return to playing plans for implementation when it is considered safe and appropriate to resume.

“We have also remained in regular dialogue with Scottish Government to ensure their input into and ultimately approval of those proposed plans.

“Regrettably, the government has today confirmed that - in cognisance of the current restrictions in place across the country - they cannot currently commit to return dates for those affected leagues in the coming weeks.

“We will continue to speak with all parties in the meantime and will provide a further update by March 1.

“This date should not be seen as a proposed restart date, however it should help provide some clarity to affected clubs to aid their planning over the short term.”

The period of no football has given Neilston bosses Chris Cameron and Derek Carson a chance to look ahead to next season and get some of their key players signed up for another campaign at Brig O’Lea.

The Farmers Boys had a 100 per cent record in Conference B of the West of Scotland Football League before the shutdown and whilst Cameron is keen to not take any focus off of the remainder of this season, should they return, he doesn’t want to lose any of his squad.

He told Barrhead Sport: “We’ve got half an eye on next season as well so we’ll probably look to start tying players up and get them on extended contracts in the next month or so.

“We don’t want to do that too early because our sole focus has to be on getting this season finished and being a successful season so we’ll look at that when it’s the right time.”