THEIR seasons may be hanging in the balance but that hasn't stopped some of West Fife's non-league clubs from planning ahead.

Kelty Hearts, the Lowland League leaders; East of Scotland League, Premier Division Crossgates Primrose and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts; and First Division Oakley United and Rosyth, are all still waiting to find out if their campaigns will be able to resume.

Last week, SPFL League One and League Two clubs, and those in the Scottish Women's Premier League One, were given the green light to resume playing, on the condition they carry out PCR tests once a week.

The Scottish Cup will also return, having been part of the suspension of all football beneath the SPFL Championship from January 11, but the Scottish Football Association stated that Scottish Women’s Football Premier League Two; the 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 that their return to football activity would be "reviewed in line with the Scottish Government’s road map out of the COVID-19 crisis".

Despite the uncertainty surrounding whether the current season will be completed, some clubs have been busy tying up members of their squad on new contracts for when they do get back on the pitch.

Since the suspension period kicked in, Crossgates have agreed fresh terms with forward Archie Campbell, defenders Dougie Swan, Mark Forbes and Reece Sawers, midfielder Darren Aitken and club captain Scott Lawrie, while Rosyth and Oakley say they have agreed deals in principle with the majority of their squads.

Humbug Park gaffer Alan Campbell said: "Normally, what we would do is, about March/April time, we renew the contracts, but we've just done it a bit quicker this year with everything that's going on.

"We did that last year and it was quite a sensible thing to do because, what you don't want, is getting into the summer everybody's available, everybody's a free agent, and it's a bit of a free-for-all.

"The ones we've tied down are the nucleus that's been with us for three or four years so I'm pleased to get all of them tied down. We'll see if there's a few more we can get done and then we will be looking to maybe add a few more in the summer. It seems a long way away yet!

"We just need to know what's happening with this season first before we can start, really. When you're talking to players, they're all a bit up in the air as well and they don't know what they're doing either so I think it will be quite tricky.

"You wouldn't agree to sign for another team just now if you still knew you maybe had half a season pretty much to go; it's not really the norm.

"I get that it's difficult for players to commit to anything but we're just happy that the nucleus we've had for a few years now are staying with us.

"It just creates that continuity and it means you're going back in pre-season and at least you know you've got the best part of a squad there, and you've just got to fine-tune it and add to it here and there."

Russell Craig, assistant boss at Rosyth, said: "I think we're at about the 95 per cent stage of re-signing the boys that we were looking at re-signing, and talks are ongoing in relation to future developments with other players.

"We're in regular contact with the boys and they've all agreed in principal. We'd already secured a couple on a couple of year deals last year – Ally Griffin and Ryan McDonald. We've got a bunch of loyal boys here and they all want to play for Brian (Muirhead, manager) and they can see what the plans are for the future.

"We've still got a very strong squad in relation to 25, 26 boys signed. They've been out on runs, they've been sending in their runs, and we've now created an exercise package for them to work on the cardiovascular stuff as well.

"It's keeping them active and interested."

Craig Cowan, a committee member at Oakley, added: "Most of the players, because of COVID, only signed for a season. The good thing is that most of our squad have said that they'll re-sign for next season.

"We had a Zoom call with the manager, he's went away and spoke with the players, and they're willing to come back and play for us. That's a good sign."