NON-LEAGUE football clubs in West Fife are still no clearer as to whether their seasons will resume despite an update from the Scottish Football Association.

Teams beneath the SPFL Championship had been expecting further detail yesterday (Monday) from the governing body and the Coronavirus Joint Response Group (JRG) - which includes the SPFL - about the ongoing football suspension.

This afternoon, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in the Scottish Parliament that clubs in League One and League Two, and Scottish Women's Premier League One, could resume playing - with the Scottish Cup also set to return - subject to them conducting testing once a week.

There has, however, been no further update on the situation for non-league clubs, who remain out of action.

With Scotland entering lockdown restrictions on Boxing Day, and amidst a rise in COVID-19 cases, the SFA announced that all football below the country's top two men's divisions would be suspended for a period of three weeks from January 1.

That was subsequently extended until February 14, and then again to March 1, when the SFA said they would provide a further update.

READ MORE: Non-league clubs seeks season clarity

Last week, the First Minister outlined a 'route map' out of current restrictions, but the SFA said that they are awaiting a decision from ministers as to whether football can resume.

They said: "This suspension was approved by the Board of the Scottish FA against a backdrop of increased positive cases for COVID-19 nationwide caused by new strains of the virus.

"Following a meeting with the Minister for Public Health Sport and Wellbeing, Mairi Gougeon, a temporary suspension of all football was agreed, encompassing all predominantly part-time tiers of Scottish professional football: SPFL League One, SPFL League Two, Scottish Women’s Football Premier Leagues 1 & 2, Highland League, Lowland League, East, West & South of Scotland Leagues, Scottish Junior FA Leagues and the North Caledonian League.

"Since then, a series of discussions have taken place via video conference with all leagues affected by the suspension, to establish the measures and protocols under which each might resume their competitions. This information has been shared with the Scottish Government and, while it has been positively received, we await a final decision from ministers."

Of this afternoon's parliamentary update, the SFA stated: "The Scottish FA welcomes news from the First Minister that Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 and SPFL League One and Two can return to football activity immediately.

"The parameters under which that return is allowed follows discussions between the Scottish FA and representatives of each league and based on the current SPFL Premiership and Championship Joint Response Group Protocols, including a requirement to undertake PCR testing once per week.

"Scottish Women’s Football Premier League 2, Highland League, Lowland League, East, West & South of Scotland Leagues, Scottish Junior FA Leagues and the North Caledonian League all remain under temporary suspension and their return to football activity will be reviewed in line with the Scottish Government’s road map out of the COVID-19 crisis.

"We will continue to liaise with representatives of those leagues in the coming weeks to establish appropriate return to football protocols.

"The Scottish Cup has also been given approval to resume, with all clubs in the competition given permission to participate subject to compliance with PCR testing requirements. Revised Scottish Cup fixture dates will be announced as soon as possible.

"The SPFL and SWF will also update on the respective league fixture schedules in due course."

SFA president, Rod Petrie, said: "The preparatory work undertaken with representatives of affected leagues and their commitment to the inclusion of weekly PCR testing, has given ministers the confidence to permit the return of SWPL 1 and SPFL League One and Two.

"While we are pleased to see the return of these leagues, there remain significant numbers unable to return to play, including the remaining levels of the professional pyramid, elite youth football, club youth football and our amateur and grassroots clubs across both the male and female game.

"We are acutely aware of the desire within those levels of football to return to playing football and we will continue to work with the Scottish Government to ensure they are able to as soon as it is safe to do so."

Following the update yesterday, the East of Scotland League Tweeted: "It's as well most of us in our environment have prior experience in having hopes dashed. Comments telling - disappointment, frustration & anger for the most part."

Last week, before the updates, some of those involved with local clubs gave their thoughts on the ongoing situation.

Grant Brough, who is in charge at Inverkeithing, said: “It’s a lot of ifs, buts and maybes, but I don’t know.

“I just think they should bin the season and be done with it. This hanging on and hanging on, and we might be able to do this, we might be able to do that – we’ve played 10 games of the season.

“There are teams who have played less; just bin it, draw a line under it and say we’ll start again.

“I just think they need to draw a line under it, personally, but I don’t see that happening. I see them playing to the 50 per cent point and calling it points per game.”

Crossgates counterpart, Alan Campbell, commented: “There’s obviously more important things going on in the country just now than non-league football, so I get it all.

“I think on Monday they’re probably going to have to give us an idea of what’s happening. One of the communications we got through was that, without testing, it’s going to be very difficult for the government and the SFA to allow football to take place with the way things are.

“I would expect on Monday to get a bit of information, whether it’s look guys, we’ve tried our best, we appreciate all the effort to get going without crowds, you played 10 or 11 games, but we’re going to sack it until the summer with crowds coming back and things like that, and just do a normal season.

“I think that’s probably the sensible thing for them to do.”

Russell Craig, who is on Rosyth’s coaching team, said: “I can’t see the football coming back.

"We’ve got the facility there that we can do it, but other teams don’t. You’re potentially looking at impacting on the start of next season. Is it worthwhile? I don’t know.

“I’d like to be proved wrong but I can’t see it.”

Oakley boss, Stewart Kenny, added: “My opinion? Absolutely not a chance.

“I think we’ve played eight games, have still got 22 to go I think it is in the league, and realistically you’re going to need two or three months to finish that.

“It’s doable, because you’re coming into the light nights, but is it going to happen? I don’t think so.”