UNCERTAINTY reigns again for Warrington Town.

Having returned from a five-week absence due to the coronavirus lockdown for what turned out to be a one-off fixture, they will once again have a prolonged wait for their next competitive action.

The Northern Premier League is unlikely to start again until the new year, with the majority of clubs in areas under Tier 3 Covid restrictions.

While Warrington is in Tier 2, meaning Cantilever Park can welcome paying spectators to matches, clubs in Tier 3 will have to play matches behind closed doors – something deemed unsustainable by the league.

Yellows boss Paul Carden says his players will remain in training and will likely arrange friendly matches so that when the call comes to return to league action, they are prepared.

Following Tuesday’s exit from the FA Trophy via a 3-1 defeat at Marske United, they may well be grateful for more time on the training pitch to work on things.

> How Warrington Town's FA Trophy campaign came to a familiar end

“We’ll just have to train and arrange some friendlies. That’s all we can do,” Carden said.

“Personally, I don’t see much happening until mid-January.

“If you weigh it up from when they next look at it, they’re not going to relax it for nine days before a free-for-all at Christmas and then step it up again.

“They’re going to have to assess the fall-out from Christmas, so I don’t see much changing.

“I’d like to be wrong but I just can’t see it.”

When the competitive action does return, Town will have a new goalkeeper in their midst.

The club have secured the return of Republic of Ireland under 19s international Bobby Jones on a season-long loan from Wigan Athletic.

> A familiar face returns to Warrington Town on loan

Jones finished the 2019-20 season on loan at Cantilever Park and Carden is pleased to have brought him back to provide competition for regular number one Charlie Albinson.

Warrington Guardian: Bobby Jones has rejoined Yellows on loan. Picture by John HopkinsBobby Jones has rejoined Yellows on loan. Picture by John Hopkins

It may not be the last of the recruitment, either.

“We need to have a couple of good keepers pushing for one position,” he said.

“We didn’t have one and it shouldn’t be that way.

“We know he’s a top keeper and it will only help the squad improve as there’s competition for every position.

“We’ll be looking to bring a couple more in as well.”