Ollerton Town boss doesn't expect football to return until next season.

With his side well in the running for promotion from the East Midlands Counties League, Winter has more to lose than most because of the suspension of football but he made it clear that everyone’s priority should be beating the Coronavirus pandemic.

“I must say I fully support the current decision,” said Winter.

“I was the first one to call for football to come back safely when it did and I was more than happy with the work that was done at the club, and the procedures we put in place to keep everyone safe.

“However, I am seeing the devastating effects that this horrendous virus is causing personally and professionally. I understand the Lockdown will have plenty of adverse effects on many of us but unfortunately that’s the way it is.”

As is to be expected, there is a lot of talk amongst the non-league community about what happens next and sadly, Winter believes the severity of the situation around the country means this season may be over already.

“It kills me to say it but I can’t [see us playing any more football this season],” the long-serving manager confessed.

“We have just passed 100,000 deaths and had the most amount of deaths in any single day. Football can’t continue until it’s safe for us all to return to some sort of normality.

“There was beginning to be some real local interest in the league that we haven’t seen for several years but football will still be here once COVID has been eradicated.”

October marks the tenth anniversary of Dave and his assistant Steve Bodle joining the club.

And Winter is hopeful that the team can build on their table-topping form next season.

“It is a big year for me and Steve, there’s not many people that stay at a club for ten years,” acknowledged Winter.

“Progress is good in any shape or form and that’s something we want to achieve every season, no matter how much.”