Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
TEST FURY AS WAIT GOES ON
Airdriedof: Weshould’vehadoptionbefore
Airdrieonians director of football Stuart Millar has questioned why the option to test players wasn’t available earlier after the lower league shutdown was extended by two weeks.
The SFA suspended all lower league football on January 11for three weeks, but on Friday this was extended to February 15.
Club in the Championship were allowed to continue with testing, but League One clubs like Airdrie weren’t provided that option.
There are three full-time clubs in League One – Airdrie adopt a hybrid system – and Queen’s Park in League Two, but only now is the option to test be spoken about as clubs plot their return to the pitch.
And Millar has queried why clubs weren’t consulted before suspending the leagues.
He said: “It all goes back to why weren’t League One and Two clubs asked before the suspension? They could have been given that choice, especially when we’ve all intimated that we’d test to get back playing.
“Why weren’t we given that option prior to the announcement?
“Falkirk and Partick Thistle are full-time and we’ve got a hybrid system with three quarters of our players on full-time deals so, who is to say there’s a bigger risk in League One than the Championship?
“It seems problematic having to test part-time players who are going out to work in their day jobs.
“I’d have thought it would be more difficult for part-time players but we’ve got Alloa and Arbroath testing in the Championship so that acts as a precedent.”
L1 and L2 clubs remain positive they’ll receive the green light to return to training when the authorities make their next announcement on February 10.
Clubs have been boosted by a government grant which eases the financial burden of testing and although Millar admits returning will be expensive, he appreciates the importance of delivering for the fans.
He said: “It’s desperate measures, clubs are looking at anyway to get back playing again.
“Financially, it’s not good business practice but from a health and safety viewpoint, it protects the players at risk from playing. All clubs are in agreement that if it takes testing to get back playing again then we will do it.
“This game is nothing without fans and we have to protect their interests by trying to get back playing.”