More games being postponed after positive tests, creating more fixture pile-up in a schedule with little flexibiity, ever-tighter restrictions meaning that the prospect of fans returning to grounds grows ever less likely and all the while the Premier League is demanding a huge price to help Football League clubs get through the crisis, putting clubs between the devil and a very deep blue sea. I’m not sure how much longer this can continue or what the solution might be (apart from the Premier League doing the decent thing for the good of the game but that’s not going to happen….).
Now we have games going ahead even though the manager & his assistant are unavailable. Is this really the right choice? Should the game not be postponed?
A chairman should have had the balls to say were not carrying on the season till fans are allowed in, and every team is tested week in week out, our players are probably catching covid from other teams that are not testing.It’s like drugs in sport we are paying the price for getting caught.
Seeing 2 players got off the club bus at Birmingham they would have been in contact with the other players so all players should have isolated, so if a outbreak starts at Exeter who will get the blame. Grimsby had to isolate when a youth player got it.
So Exeter havnt been testing up to now, wonder who many of there players have passed it on,The Efl are really not fit for purpose allowing clubs to make there own mind up whether to test or not.
A lot of league 1 and 2 teams can’t afford numerous tests 2 or 3 times a week, about £100 a test for each player so it was said when Chelsea played Hull.
Us rich northerners,Accrington,Grimsby and Scunny can do so am sure everyone else can especially Hull. That’s not the point the Efl should have instructed everyone to test or not.And more so the government should have instructed the Efl on what position to take.
There has been a lot of criticism levelled at the club this season, but the thorough approach to COVID testing should be recognised.
They are clearly taking their duty of care to players and staff very seriously and it has to be said, more seriously than large a number of League One/Two clubs.
Other clubs haven’t tested since the mandatory test prior to the season start and are no obligation to do so from the EFL. (Steve Evans admitted this weekend Gillingham haven’t been tested since 48hrs prior to the beginning of the season.)
Credit to Swann for footing the bill for regular testing at £5k a pop, but it does seem as though we are being punished for going above and beyond what the league deem acceptable.
Am sure your aware not many posters will give Swanny any credit no matter what he does, and for once nor will I, testing as done us no favours,Swanny is wasting his money.
All the testing in the world will not keep our players safe if Swanny allows them to mix with other teams don’t you agree?. Forget my opinions on covid. I have been pointing out what SST posted since the 23rd of Sept when Hull refused free testing when they played West ham, Not wanting to know was totally out of order McCann should have duty of care to his players and their families..So that is why it is a waste of money.
More than three teams refused to play yesterday I cant imagine a huge fine or been booted out the league, can you.
You don’t know what the outcome of refusing to play will be yet. The EFL are investigating. If we refused to play having enough players tested negative Swann wouldn’t want to risk punishment. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t ‘got balls’, it means he’s pragmatic.
It is ridiculous that the rules on testing are not the same for all clubs. I don’t see how a club that is not doing testing can be seen to be fulfilling its duty of care as an employer. That fact alone will undermine any attempts to get this season finished.
The day will arrive when one of the players, managers, coaches, support staff or members of their immediate families dies from Covid.
NOT sure about Swann’s balls, but his brain is working well on this issue. Ferrite is correct, the employer has a basic duty of care to undertake risk assessments and ensure that appropriate testing is carried out.
Player safety and that of their close contacts comes before fulfilling fixtures.
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