IT looks like being a hectic end to the non-league football season for Worcestershire clubs as the FA changed the end dates at Steps 5 and 6.

They have been brought forward a week in order to fit in the play-off schedule but also to be mindful of the financial impact of contracted players beyond the end of April.

The end date at Step 5, the level that the likes of City, Stourport Swifts, Bewdley Town and Malvern Town play at, will be April 23 and for Step 6, affecting Pershore Town and Worcester Raiders, will be the week after on April 30.

The play-offs will then take place the following weekend for both so April 30 for Step 5 and May 8 for Step 6.

A statement from the Football Association read: "After the previous two seasons have been impacted by COVID-19, we find ourselves with the real hope that a full and uninterrupted season can be completed in the National League System.

"As such we also need to plan for both required processes to be undertaken over the close season to ensure that allocations can be finalised, any appeals process can be undertaken, and constitutions confirmed with Leagues in readiness for AGM’s ahead of the Season 2022-23 start at the end of July/early August.

"We understand entirely that ‘season end dates’ had not been confirmed formally ahead of the Season, with Step 5 and 6 Leagues only being required to achieve as high completion rate as quickly as possible as we commenced the Season under the profile of contingency planning.

"We also have the addition this year of a play-off match between some Step 5 and 4 Clubs at the end of the Season and with this, need to be mindful of the financial impact of contracted players beyond the end of April."

With that in mind, the fixture schedule for Worcester City in particular looks full on.

After the game with Walsall Wood on Tuesday evening was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and following the postponement of the clash at home to Haughmond last Saturday, City now have eleven games to play in eight weeks.

In the Hellenic Football League, Malvern have played 32 of their 38 games so only have six to go.

They sit in sixth place on 62 points after winning four on the bounce and remain right in the mix for a play-off spot.

As for Raiders in Division One, their quest for automatic promotion remains on as they currently sit three points behind league leaders Studley.

Karl Gormley's men have six games left to go in order to close that gap and get themselves promoted into Step 5 and perhaps a chance to play against City if Tim Harris' men fail to get promotion.

Pershore Town also have six to go in Division One and being only one point off the play-offs, they remain in with a shout.

They have played a few games more than most around them but with their winning form they could well still see themselves involved in the post-season picture.