Killie in Covid crunch talks
SPFL chiefs will hold crunch talks on Monday as Covid-hit Kilmarnock threaten to throw the Betfred Cup into turmoil.
League officials agreed to cancel Killie’s Premiership clash with Motherwell last night because of a coronavirus outbreak among their squad.
Alex Dyer and his first team have been put into self-isolation for two weeks, following medical advice, after six players returned positive tests this week. Killie are
FROM BACK PAGE scheduled to play at Falkirk on Tuesday in the Cup and entertain Dunfermline the following week. But none of the first team will be eligible to play in those games.
With the calendar already packed, it is near impossible to fit in any more games.
Other options could include the forfeit of the tie or Ki l lie fielding an underage team but these are unlikely outcomes, especially as players have not broken any of the Covid-19 rules.
A club statement last night read: “Kilmarnock can confirm the match against Motherwell will not take place as scheduled.
“Six players in total have now tested positive and following discussions with NHS Ayrshire & Arran Public Health, the Scottish Government, East Ayrshire Council and the footballing authorities, our entire firstteam squad have been advised to self-isolate until October 14.”
A spokesman for the SPFL added: “No new date for this fixture has been set, pending the outcome of the SPFL investigation.”
Kilmarnock’s players haven’t trained since Tuesday when the first three tests returned positive.
Aberdeen and Celtic have previously had games cancelled after some of their players breached Covid-19 restrictions while Hamilton and St Mirren have both had to play with multiple positive results.
Meanwhile, the SPFL have confirmed the cancel lation of the Challenge Cup, which Record Sport exclusively revealed earlier this week.
The decision follows a consultation with all 42 clubs, due to a lack of revenues from having no fans at games.