McCall can’t see how fixtures can be completed
emphasised that, with coronavirus not set to reach its peak in the United Kingdom until the end of May or middle of June, the suspension will last far longer.
Higgins feels the uncertainty over their future and inability to play will take a heavy toll on footballers and is confident that FIFPro, who represent the interests of professional players worldwide, will do everything they can to ensure their wellbeing during a traumatic time.
“I know that mental health concerns are a big issue and guys who work in this area in Scotland and England are deploying all of their resources for that service to be put out,” he said. “FIFPro have been driving the mental health agenda for many years through our medical department.
“Obviously, securing the resources to keep the clubs afloat are a big thing, but all sorts of people involved in the game, the players and the coaches and administrative staff, have big issues as well. All these services will be brought into the equation.
“I have been observing what has been going on and supplying information. I worked for many years with FIFPro on issues of match fixing, corruption in different parts of the world. I saw at first hand when players were not being paid or were denied opportunities to earn money for three months, six months. But there has never been anything like this.”
PARTICK THISTLE manager Ian McCall concedes that he cannot see a way to resolve the SPFL season as Scottish football faces unprecedented uncertainty.
The Jags are currently bottom of the Championship standings with nine games left to play, trailing ninth-place Queen of the South by two points.
The Thistle manager believes that fulfilling the remaining fixtures is the fairest way to conclude the current campaign but admitted that he has his doubts over whether this resolution is even possible.
“Everyone agrees that the best way is to finish the season and play all the games, no doubt about it,” he said. “But I can’t see how that can happen. I just cant see it happening. So someone needs to make a decision on how we move forward.
“But [these are] incredibly tough decisions that people will have [to make] and it will be very hard for people not to be accused of self-interest. I don’t envy them. I have my feeling on what should happen. I genuinely don’t think any team should be worse off. I think finishing the league is the best solution but for the life of me I don’t see how that can happen.
“We’ve got nine players out of contract, we’ve got four loans, we’ve got players coming in on pre-contracts. You can’t finish the league with a different team. But it’s going to be a tough decision.
“The powers that be have a hard job in football and government. No matter what they decide it won’t get universal approval. This country has come through wars and got on our feet again. ‘When’ is the question.”
It is a unique set of circumstances for the 55-year-old, but he readily admits that football has to take a back seat whilst people’s health is at stake.
“This has been challenging and every manager will say that,” he said. “The most difficult part of my week was going to Dumfries to see my 85-year-old mother and having to sit three metres apart from her. That puts into perspective the challenges of keeping your players ticking over.
“We are monitoring their fitness and if they aren’t doing their work I give them a call. We have a few boys self isolating now as well, so it is tough, but there are far bigger challenges in normal life.
“Some players get a reputation of being daft, but this is an extreme circumstance and they will have their own issues with their families. Be it young children, elderly relatives and so on. They realise the enormity of the situation. We have to get through it the best we can. I have spoken to some players and I will keep doing that.”
The Maryhill side rebranded as Partick Thistle Family Club on Thursday and rolled out a new initiative that would see players and staff members phone in on elderly supporters who are self-isolating in a bid to raise their spirits.
“Football can be huge in these circumstances, as can sport in general,” he said. “We can play a role in it and we will. People underestimate how important sport is – and in this country, football. We have done a lot of stuff to help the fans.
“I phoned a supporter on Thursday and his daughter told me that he was thrilled at the call. We just chatted football. I phoned a guy today on his 73rd birthday and I’ve done a few things on my own street with the older ones. Everyone is doing it. But if you’re 73 and you’ve supported Thistle all your life and a player or a manager phones to wish you a happy birthday, then I think that’s a pretty cool thing. Little things like that will help him.
“Some clubs are worried about the financial future, but I feel in these situations, if you have a group of fans who boo and shout abuse, they are the ones who gather round when there is trouble. They are on the phones wanting to help and rally around. I think it is an irony that the unhappy ones are the ones wanting to help and it is fantastic.”