Irvine Meadow co-boss Colin Spence insists he's never missed football more in his life as the lower leagues hold out hope for a return to action.
Spence hasn't seen a ball kicked in anger since his side beat Blantyre Victoria 3-2 in a West of Scotland Premier League clash on Boxing Day.
Back-to-back postponements were quickly followed by all football below the SPFL Championship being suspended on January 11 amid a backdrop of rising coronavirus cases.
He's found the latest pause in play - now extended to March - the toughest since the pandemic struck almost a year ago.
"It was hard during the first lockdown but it think it's hit home even more this time round," said Spence.
"I've never missed football more in my life and I think the players are feeling the same.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back in any capacity we can, even just to knock a ball about.
"Our coach Mark Bellew has been keeping the lads ticking over with fitness sessions over Zoom, but this has definitely been the hardest period so far.
"Fingers crossed that good news isn't too far away. I definitely think we can get back playing this season.
"Cases are coming down all the time and I think we're getting to the point with life in general that we need a return to some kind of normality."
On Tuesday, The Scottish Football Association announced that all leagues below the SPFL Championships will remain suspended until March at the earliest.
West of Scotland League chiefs have hatched contingency plans should lower league football eventually get the green-light.
They have scrapped all original fixtures for the season and come up with a new schedule with the aim of ensuring all teams play each other at least once.
They want to reach a minimum of 50 per cent games played as that is the threshold for decaring champions using an average points-per-game formula.
With games on hold, Spence has turned his attentions towards achieving coaching qualifications essential to Meadow's ambition of gaining an SFA Club licence.
He's booked in for two exams later this month and hopes to sit an all-important third test shortly thereafter.
