HELSTON Athletic boss Steve Massey is pleased that the FA Vase is set to be held next season after fearing that it would fall victim to the coronavirus.

Massey feared that the national non-league competition would be sacrificed to give leagues more space to complete their fixtures in what is expected to be a shorter 2020/21 season, which is likely to start in September at the earliest.

But it appears that the FA still intends on running the competition next season, albeit with the early rounds likely having to be packed closely together at the start of the campaign.

This decision was music to the ears of Massey, who has his sights set on going deep in the competition next season.

He said: My big concern was, which I’ve been gearing my squad for and the recruitment has been with not just the league but the Vase [in mind], that I wanted a really good Vase run.

“That was hinted at being one of the cuts, but the feedback, which is really encouraging, is that the FA want to play it, which is great.

“It’s great for our guys, because of the days out and you want to test yourself against other sides, and it’s something that we’re really looking forward to.”

One other thing on Massey’s wish list that may have to wait another year is the Cornwall Senior Cup, which is likely to be scrapped under the FA’s proposals for the 2020/21 season.

The FA proposed four scenarios for the start of the 2020/21 season and suggested that a September or October start is the most likely at this stage.

But with this option coming in at least one month later than the usual August start, league and county cups are set to be culled for one season to compensate for the later start to the campaign.

Massey said: “It’s talked about the Cornwall Senior Cup [not being played], which has been my holy grail. The only time I’ve been to a final is to report on it, to summarise on it with the radio, and the furthest I’ve been is the semi-final.

“That’s being talked about being put back or held off until the following year, and I’ll have to wait another year to try and win it.

“But the very fact there seems to be that light at the end of the tunnel has certainly not gone out and it’s certainly much brighter now, and it’s not too far away.”