The last two football seasons have been like no other and the financial pressure on all leagues is increasing rapidly.

So how are Southern League Division 1 South leaders Cirencester Town dealing with the pandemic?

The Centurions sat top of the table after a thumping 6-1 win at Paulton Rovers back in November, a four point lead over 2nd place AFC Totton after picking up eight wins in their first nine league games of the season.

However it was to be their final game before all non-elite sport was halted.

With clubs voting in favour to curtail the season with immediate effect last month, the Football Association has confirmed fixtures will be “curtailed with immediate effect” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cirencester Town club secretary Scott Griffin said the news was disappointing but probably the right decision.

"We were only about a quarter of the way into the season but we had our eyes on promotion or playoffs at the very least," Scott said.

"We voted to continue the season where possible and if safe to do so.

"So it is disappointing but probably the right decision for the season to end. Ultimately there are more important things than football."

Cirencester Town were vying for spot in the playoffs last season when the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a halt in March 2020.

The club were sat in 6th place, four points off 3rd placed Larkhall Athletic following a run of five straight wins.

"It's massively disappointing that it has happened two years in a row, especially as we were pushing for the playoffs last season," Scott continued.

"However it would not have been fair to carry on this season. If we were battling in mid-table we may have voted differently, we just don't know."

The Southern League has yet to decide whether or not a subsidiary cup will be organised in April and May to replace the league season.

As it stands, non-elite football is set to return on March 29, with fans not allowed back into grounds until May 17 at the earliest.

Scott said: "The decision is still raw, so we haven't yet panned for the next few months ahead.

"The manager John Brough is football mad and he is always looking ahead, but when that will be we just do not know yet."

Scott said that the most difficult part of the pandemic for all clubs has been the financial side of things.

He added: "We still don't know if we will have fans when we return to playing football or how many we will be allowed to have.

"Thankfully, the clubs finances are in an okay position.

"We have lost a lot of income on the commercial side of things, but luckily we have an artificial pitch.

"This means we have been able to rent our pitch out to clubs.

"Forest Green Rovers have used the pitch a lot, Exeter used it for an away game at Salford too. So that income has kept up going.

"We have also just had a grant through from the Football Foundation which is a great relief as well."

And the club says they have benefited too from behind closed doors games in the football league.

"Just before lockdown we saw season ticket holders from Swindon, Forest Green Rovers, Cheltenham," Scott said.

"We saw some new faces and slightly increased attendances. So we hope that continues in the future."