Brackley preparing as normal for clash with Chorley

Brackley Town have been preparing as normal for this weekend’s scheduled clash with Chorley at St James Park.

But Kevin Wilkin knows it could all change at the drop of a hat.

The future of the National League North season is hanging in the balance with clubs having been given 28 days to vote on whether it should continue or be declared null and void.

The voting process has come about due to a number of clubs being concerned over a lack of funding to keep the season going.

Clubs had been expecting a fresh round of grants, similar to what they had in the first three months but it has now emerged that only loans would be offered.

The National League North and South divisions had previously been suspended for two weeks with that period due to expire tomorrow (Friday) with no indication from the National League as yet as to whether games will actually take place this weekend.

Brackley boss Wilkin accepts there are things beyond the control of him and his players.

But, having put the work in to prepare for Saturday’s clash against this season’s non-League FA Cup heroes, he is hoping the game will go ahead as planned.

“All we can do and all we have been doing is to prepare for the game,” the Brackley manager said.

“It’s not been great with all the uncertainty. We have the goal of working towards a game but you want to know whether that game is actually going to be on.

“We lost the Boston game at really late notice and my worry is that the same happens again this weekend.

“But we can’t let that cloud our thoughts too much. We have to focus on it and hope it goes ahead.

“We have been tested over the last couple of weeks and we were all tested again on Tuesday and everyone came back negative so we are trying to do the right things. The doctor at the club has been fantastic.

“If it goes ahead, it’s a really tough game.

“Chorley have got a similar record to ourselves and if they were to win the game they would go above us. We are under no illusions. It’s not going to be an easy game.

“It’s a question of whether you can come back after a break in the form you were in before it, that’s the big test for everyone.

“But the attitude since we have been back in and training has been first-class and when we are all fit we know we give ourselves a good chance of winning games.”