The Isle of Man FA has been forced to postpone the Railway Cup final until the new year because of the Premier League’s current fixture backlog.

The final was set to take place on Boxing Day at the Bowl, but it will now be held in 2018 when the arrears have been cleared.

A combination of a later start to the campaign because of August’s Festival of Motorcycling, plus postponements caused by weather and call-ups to the Isle of Man FA’s representative squads means that the top four at the CLPL’s 12-game, halfway mark is far from being decided.

The semi-finals were due to take place on December 2, but clubs like Rushen United and St George’s have only played six league matches so far.

Fixture guru Tony Mepham is hopeful of putting the rearranged league games between St George’s and Corinthians and Rushen and DHSOB on on Boxing Day, but is awaiting confirmation from the clubs.