The proposed merger between the South-West Peninsula League and the Toolstation Western League has been officially postponed by the FA.

The merger was put forward to help clubs with the challenges of travel costs, which is uniquely difficult for some teams in the Western League. For example, the round trip from Mousehole to Keynsham is a gruelling 400 miles.

Unfortunately, the proposal always faced an uphill task to be completed in the short timeframe allocated and will now be put on ice until an FA consultation with clubs is carried out.

The immediate impact on both leagues will be a retention of the current system for next season, with the normal level of promotion places available.

“The merger was the idea of the leagues in the first place but, ultimately, it needs approval from the FA because it would mean structural changes to the National Leagues system,” said Phil Hiscox from the South-West Peninsula League.

“The original idea was to progress the merger to help clubs reduce travel costs, that was the prime motivation. What the FA has said is that they will now consult with member clubs in both leagues to see what changes are desired at club level.

“It may then be a case of looking at an alternative structure for future seasons, but the leagues will remain as per normal for the 2023-24 season.

“The normal promotion places will still be available to clubs in the Peninsula League, so it is just the extra spaces that are no longer eligible. I know some clubs would have only taken the extra spaces because of the reduction in travel and now that reduction is not in place, it will be a question of whether they take promotion, if their final league position provides that option.

“There is no other part of the country that faces the same travel challenges we experience in the South-West, which is why the FA were willing to look at the merger. They have described it themselves as a unique geographical area.

“We are also dealing with a large number of clubs, all of whom have their own views. Some clubs feel that taking promotion and going up the football pyramid will lead to extra travel, and that is part of the process.

“It is, however, particularly difficult for clubs in the furthest reaches of the region. For example, clubs like Mousehole and Wendron in the depths of Cornwall or, at the other end, a Keynsham or Cadbury Heath.

“Consultation with clubs obviously makes sense because there is no point making changes that aren’t wanted. The timeframe for the proposed merger was always going to be tight and my view is that it is better to ensure any changes are correct and workable, rather than rush something through that might need further changes down the line.

“The Western League were keen on the initial timescale and the FA did say, at the start, it was very ambitious. If you go back to when the Devon League and South-Western League merged, we did all the rules and structure over a two-year consultation period.

“In this case, we have been trying to put structures in place at the same time as clubs competing in their respective leagues.”

While the concept of a merger does remain sensible, the current format of the Western League and SWPL has produced some fantastic football this season. Title races in all divisions look set for an exciting climax and runs in the FA Vase for the likes of Brixham and Bovey Tracey has shown the quality of our teams.

“From a competition perspective in the South-West Peninsula League, both divisions are extremely close and exciting this year, so our competition is in a healthy place,” added Hiscox.

“We also had Brixham going further than any other club in Devon and Cornwall in the FA Vase, plus a great run for Bovey Tracey, so there is an argument that the opportunities to compete at a higher level are already in place.”