Torquay United manager Gary Johnson has become the latest figure to voice his concerns about the effect that the coronavirus could have on lower league football in England.
Johnson, 64, who the most experienced manager in English football with over 30 years in management and coaching and with six promotions to his name, admits that he has never seen anything like it.
“I have had games where quite a few of the lads have caught the flu or a cold and I have been left thinking about how I am going to put a team together – but nothing like this," said Johnson.
"This is a bit more serious. It’s world-wide and it does sort of put football into perspective. I am listening to everything that goes on and we have made a lot of provisions here at the training ground and at the club to make sure that we are as vigilant as we can be in trying to stop the spread, like everyone else. We just have to wait and see how it develops. Everybody’s hoping that we are going to wake up and say ‘it’s all gone’ – but it looks like there’s a plan and all of us are going to be part of that plan - and it’s definitely going to affect our hobbies and businesses, and football comes into that category."
Traditional pre-match handshakes between teams has already been halted in a bid to stop the spread of infection, which is already having a wider reaching impact on the game.
Earlier this week Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Arsenal was postponed due to the virus; a number of Arsenal's players and club staff were in close proximity to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also owner of Greek club Olympiakos - the Gunners' recent Europa League opponents, who has been diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus.
The possibility of playing all games in English football behind closed doors has been discussed, as has the financial implication of such a decision. Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios has already indicated this decision could cost clubs in the region of £400,000 to £500,000 in lost revenue.
This has particular relevance to Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, who are both challenging for promotion from League Two and are due to meet a week next Monday (23rd March) live on Sky Sports. There is a possibility that that encounter could yet take place behind closed doors.
Pilgrims' boss Ryan Lowe admitted that he would be 'very, very disappointed' if Argyle had to play games behind closed doors at Home Park for the remainder of the campaign.
UEFA will be meeting with the heads of all of 55 football federations next Tuesday; in the meantime the League has announced that it will continue to liaise with the Government regarding any further developments and work with clubs to ensure players, staff and supporters are updated and appraised accordingly.
