WELSH football received yet another body blow this week with the cancellation of all matches for the remainder of the year.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) confirmed the National Sports Group (NSG) had rescinded elite status granted to the JD Cymru Premier and Orchard Welsh Women's Premier League.

All scheduled fixtures have now been postponed.

Meanwhile the two regional second divisions, the JD Cymru North and South, which were due to start their delayed season in January, have also been deprived of elite status.

The decision follows the Welsh Government decree to introduce a third national lockdown in nine months in its continued battle to suppress rising coronavirus cases throughout Wales.

The FAW statement read: "All fixtures and activities involving non-fully professional clubs are to be postponed until further notice. The JD Cymru Leagues will make a separate announcement as to whether any fixtures involving fully professional clubs can take place during this period.

"The decision by the NSG has been made in the context of the rapidly developing public health crisis here in Wales.

"The NSG has confirmed that the elite status designation will be automatically re-instated under lower alert levels.

"The FAW urges everyone to follow the Welsh Government guidelines during the lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19."