MALDON and Tiptree manager Wayne Brown admits it is difficult to make plans for the future amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Jammers’ season was cut short back in March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, denying what looked like a likely promotion as champions.

Maldon were 14 points clear at the top of Isthmian League division north with 12 games remaining when the campaign ended.

And with no dates set for any return for the 2020-21 season, boss Brown concedes it is tough to talk to players about the forthcoming campaign.

Brown said: “It’s been a frustrating and difficult process.

“It’s very hard to put a team together when there’s so much uncertainty.

“It looks very much like we’ll be in the same division, next year.

“But there’s been no decision made by the EFL and National League, going forward.

“Ten or 11 weeks have gone by since the pandemic took over our lives and that makes the speed of the decision to end our season when they did even more baffling.

“We’ll try and keep as many of our best players together and hopefully hit the ground running.

“With the way that the virus has affected the economy and businesses, we don’t know how it’s going to affect chairman and owners.

“We’ll have to go to the chairman and ask about the budget for next year but there’s still uncertainty there because he can’t give us a final decision.

“It’s very hard for me to offer a financial contract not knowing what the budget will be, or the date that we’re going to start.

“What happens if you offer an individual a contract and six weeks down the line, the start date of the season changes?

“It’s very difficult to convince players that we want to sign, given the current circumstances.

“Players at other clubs have seen the success that we’ve had last season and ambitious players want to be a part of that.

“But at our level, money can be a significant pull on why they go.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty on funding because what is happening to clubs at a higher level is having a knock-on effect.

“What’s happening in the likes of League One and League Two has an influence on what’s happening in the National League and National League South and in turn, that has a knock on effect on the Isthmian League and Isthmian League North.”