Monarchs are facing a looming fixture crisis because of their own success! Despite only having had one rain-off (against Arena Essex) so far this year, Monarchs are in danger of simply running out of Fridays before the end of the season.
After this Friday, scheduled for a Premier League fixture against Newport, there are nine Fridays available up to the end of September. All League fixtures are supposed to be completed within this period. Monarchs have four Premier League matches to complete in this period. Three of these (against Isle of Wight, Newcastle, and Glasgow) are currently scheduled and one against Arena Essex remains to be arranged.
Of the six remaining Fridays available, one is required for the Scottish Open Championship, one is set aside for the Motor Show, and one reserved for a Test Match. One Friday will be required for the home leg of the Cup Semi-Final against Sheffield and another will be needed for the rearranged Arena Essex match. That leaves only one Friday available. And this has a Scottish Cup match against Glasgow pencilled in! Should Monarchs get through the Premier National Trophy Semi-Final against Newcastle or the Cup Semi-Final against Sheffield, this will commit Monarchs to further fixtures. A Premier National Trophy Final against Newport and/or a Cup Final against Arena Essex, Exeter, or Swindon might have to be accommodated.
Assuming that the Scottish Cup fixture can be cancelled or postponed until October, that still only leaves one free Friday to stage a possible two Finals. While matches can continue into October, of the five Fridays available in October, three are reserved for the Young Shield Play-offs in which Monarchs appear certain to be involved. If there are any more rain-offs this could cease to be problem and a real problem.
Unlike many other teams, Monarchs are restricted to holding only one match per week at Armadale due to Planning conditions. This is normally to be held on a Friday but has been switched to a Wednesday or Saturday in the past.
It is uncertain if the Planning conditions can be relaxed so as to fit in two matches some weeks or if double headers can be staged.
A high profile Saturday night cup final, with Councillors invited, might be just the thing to get West Lothian Council to relent.
Such is the price of success! It is as well that Monarchs have not had as many rain-offs as last year.