FURNESS Premier League teams are already preparing for a hectic end-of-season fixture pile-up due to the persistent deluge, writes JAMES MADDEN.

A staggering 106 games have been postponed over the past two months in the three-tier competition due to persistent rainfall causing waterlogged pitches.

Most clubs have had to postpone numerous fixtures following the effects of Storm Desmond.

Furness Premier League secretary Paul Wright says many clubs are now facing a battle against time to complete their fixture list on schedule.

“It has been an absolute nightmare,” he said.

“Nearly every team will have to play mid-week games until the end of the season, and we may to have extend the season by a couple of weeks just to complete all the games.”

Kirkby United and Haverigg United are two of the clubs hit hardest, with just 16 league games played between them with a total of 56 scheduled during the season.

“Kirkby are even further behind everyone else because of cup competitions,” said Wright.

“If they continue to progress in the cups it’s going to be tight, we certainly can’t afford further games to fall victim to the weather.”

Although there is a potential plan in place to extend the season by up to two weeks if necessary, further extension would have to be granted by the FA.

Wright, who is also the league’s fixtures secretary, believes further extension could have a damaging affect on clubs long term.

“Usually the season is finished by the start of May. We could, if we had no option, play until the end of the month, but any games not played by then would need special permission,” he said.

“Furthermore, if clubs are still playing this season’s games at the start of June, it will have an impact on pre-season and the overall preparation for next year’s campaign.”

Kirkby United secretary Tim Fisher admits that the Community Centre club could lose momentum after not playing a league game since November.

“It is frustrating,” said Fisher. “We were playing really well at the start of the season, but some weeks we struggle to train let alone play because the pitches are that saturated.

“We don’t have 3G pitches up at Kirkby so we don’t even have an alternative.

“The only positive is that the rest of the league is in a similar position to us.”

West Lancashire League fixtures secretary Chris Wight believes that the weather in previous years has meant the league were expecting to have to reschedule certain fixtures.

“Obviously it has been much worse than we could ever have anticipated,” Wight said.

“But we usually lose a number of games each campaign anyway because of frozen pitches, so this hasn’t come as a total shock.”

West Lancs League action tomorrow sees a derby taking place in Division Two, with Furness Rovers entertaining Walney Island at The Training Ground.

Millom and Swarthmoor Social also have home games in the third tier against Leyland United and Croston Sports respectively.

Division One cellar-dwellers Dalton United will look for a much-needed victory in their relegation fight as they host Wyre Villa and GSK Ulverston Rangers also have home comforts as they take on Tempest United.

Holker Old Boys face a tough test of their progress under Scott Redhead when they travel to Stoke to face Hanley Town in the North West Counties Division One.

Furness Senior Cup action throws up some tasty ties with the most eye-catching being Hawcoat Park reserves taking on fellow Furness Premier League club Furness Cavaliers.