COVID HITS MILLWALL AND IPSWICH
MILLWALL and Ipswich are the latest EFL teams to have games postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak. Millwall’s Championship fixtures at Bournemouth on Boxing Day and Watford on December 29 have been postponed, while the team’s training ground has been closed due to cases in the first-team squad. Positive tests at Ipswich — including for manager Paul Lambert — have led to the postponement of their League One match at home to Northampton on Boxing Day and the trip to AFC Wimbledon on December 29. A Millwall statement read: ‘Millwall Football Club can confirm that its next two Championship fixtures have been postponed following an outbreak of Covid-19 within the first-team squad. ‘Individuals who have tested positive and their close contacts are observing a period of self-isolation. ‘The club’s Calmont Road training ground has been closed with immediate effect in order to protect players and staff and to help prevent further spread of the virus.’ Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh added: ‘This is a very regrettable but necessary move. Throughout this entire pandemic the safety and welfare of our players, staff, fans and other stakeholders has been our main priority. ‘It is with this in mind that we have closed the training ground and notified the EFL of the need to postpone the next two fixtures.’ An Ipswich statement read: ‘The individuals who have tested positive, including manager Paul Lambert, and those who have come into close contact with them are self-isolating.’ New dates for the fixtures are yet to be announced.