BURY AFC boss Andy Welsh admits it has been difficult trying to stay motivated not knowing if his side will kick a ball again this season.

With ‘non-elite’ football on hold and a second successive season in danger of being declared null-and-void, Welsh says the ongoing uncertainty has been tough to take.

AFC, who are currently top of North West Counties League Division One North, have played just seven league games all season – the last of which was a 3-2 win over Chadderton on Boxing Day.

The club has already stated that it wants to return to action but Welsh admits he has no idea when that might be.

“I don’t have any answers,” he said. “It’s so tough. I just don’t know what is going to happen, we will have to wait and see.

“Everyone knows our thoughts about the situation and we have relayed those thoughts back to the league. We want to play football, we want the league to resume. There are some other clubs who want the same and others who don’t want to play again which I completely understand.

“Every club has a right to their opinion because every club is different and perhaps find themselves in different circumstances.

“It is very frustrating from a footballing point of view, we can’t play, we can’t train or meet up.

“I keep in touch with the players and we chat a lot but it is hard to stay motivated when you don’t know if you are going to play football again this season.

“It’s hard on them because they have their own personal lives and struggles as well and they are all working hard.

“Don’t get me wrong they will be raring to go if we do get the go-ahead, they are following their own personal fitness programmes, but we just don’t know when or if that will be.”

Bury AFC have already submitted their recommendations back to the league with the Football Association expected to make a decision in the coming weeks.

They would like to see the season restart when safe to do so but want fans allowed back in and bars able to open.

The club also suggested that if only 66 per cent of fixtures can be completed, promotion and relegation would be decided on points-per-game with no end-of-season play-offs.

And in another move to avoid a second successive season being declared ‘null and void’, AFC have also proposed that the PPG method should also be used to decide league placings should only 50 per cent of games be completed.

If the season was to end prematurely, AFC want to find a way of playing some football – something Welsh agrees with.

“Whatever happens, we need to be playing football,” added Welsh.

“Ideally in the league but, if not, something else because if we don’t people would lose interest.”