A return of football from Tier 2 down in the Football Association of Wales structure, including the Costcutter League, is a long way off, prompting fears of players turning their backs on the sport.

Costcutter clubs have been involved in pre-season training for several weeks, but a return to competitive football will not take place until November at the earliest.

In the FAW’s latest Safer Return to Play protocols outdoor contact training for up to two groups of 15 players and coaches is permitted as from this week and from Monday, October 5 training matches will be permitted within clubs with a 30-person limit.

Friendlies against fellow league clubs will be allowed as from October 19 with one coach and one first-aider but no spectators. There will also be a limited number of substitutions and length of games.

These matches will be held over a three-week period after which the FAW is expected to make a further announcement which could include a possible return to league football.

The latest developments have been met with huge disappointment in Costcutter circles where players are anxious to get back to a match-play situation.

Last season’s Division One runners-up Cardigan Town have been training twice a week since July but whether players will continue attending when there is no prospect of game time remains to be seen.

The most successful manager in the Magpies’ long history Seamus Doherty, who led the club to an unprecedented haul of five trophies in season 2014-15, and is the current chairman, felt that launching a new campaign in November or perhaps later was not a feasible proposition.

“If the league programme gets underway towards the end of the year there will inevitably be cancellations due to the weather causing unplayable pitches and I don’t think there will be much point in starting,” he said.

Expressing acute disappointment, Costcutter chairman John Jones said “It would appear that some cup competitions will have to be scrapped for a season.

“There is so much uncertainty at the moment and although league football will not return until November at the earliest we are hoping for the best and will commence playing as soon as we are permitted to do so,” he said.

An FAW spokesperson said “The primary aim of the protocols in place is to support clubs and Area Associations to protect the health and safety of their players, coaches, all essential personnel and volunteers in a safer return to training and match-play.”