THIS week the BEN is investigating the problems the wettest Autumn for year's are causing local football. In last night's article Fred Morris of the Bolton Combination referred to the situation as "a nightmare". Tonight John Bullen takes a look at the impact on our local clubs in the Manchester, West Lancs and Lancs Amateur Leagues. FRED Morris at the Combination had to plan the 2000/01 season requiring a maximum of 30 playing days to complete the entire league and cup programme.

The Manchester League caters for 16 teams in its top two flights and needs 37 seven playing days to complete the schedule.

They started early, August 18 and created a bit of leeway by having two weeks of midweek fixtures. That foresight is now standing the league in good stead explains secretary Joe Hall.

"We are not panicking just yet," he says. "We are not governed in the main by local authorities taking posts down on a certain date. Most of our clubs have their own private grounds so we can extend into May if required. We have had nearly half a dozen virtual washouts of our playing programme but coming when it has so early in the season has caused other headaches for us."

"Our problems are compounded by the County Cups which take preference over league fixtures. A perfect example of what I mean is with Atherton Town who have tried to play Blackrod Town in the LFA Amateur Challenge Shield for four weeks.

"In the meantime our league and cup fixtures are on the backburner. If Atherton Town win they will then have to play the next round of the Shield so they could go nearly two months without playing a league fixture.

"The backlog could be incredible and for a team like Town who fancy their league title chances this season that can have an impact.

"The County Cups cause us problems - there are no two ways about it. It doesn't help that our teams are spread over four different counties and the respective FAs don't schedule their rounds for the same Saturdays. If they just get together and co-ordinate it, it would be a big help."

Ron Bowker, secretary of the LAL agrees about the county cups.

"We have a meeting of our Fixtures Committee on December 12. I don't want to pre-empt what may be decided but we may have to review our internal cup competitions.."

Derek Proctor President of the West Lancs League says, "We have had 40 of our clubs enter the County Cup this season which is a record. We start earlier than anyone else and aim to get five league games played in August. Here we are approaching the end of November and Eagley have played just seven league fixtures. We already know we must extend our season into May but the Presentation Evening, which is a massive event for us, is set for the 20th. The decision has already been taken to put our cup competitions back to the New Year."

Alan Westhead chairman of Tempest Utd in the West Lancs said: "If we have just one or two more washouts with the traditional bad months still to come, I just don't see how our league can possibly fit everything in this season.

"Drastic action may be needed. It's difficult to see how they could complete the league programme."