Raith Rovers set to forfeit game after Covid cases

Raith Rovers will have to forfeit Saturday’s match against Inverness Caley Thistle unless the SPFL grant them a postponement after an ‘outbreak’ of Covid-19 left them without enough players to make up a team.

The Stark’s Park side have applied to the governing body for the encounter to be called off after multiple cases of coronavirus were discovered in the playing squad and backroom staff.

A number of players were already self-isolating because of close contacts contracting the virus.

However, although all are understood to be well and asymptomatic, further cases were picked up this week by the new mandatory testing introduced by the Scottish FA for all Championship clubs.

The Kirkcaldy outfit are keeping tight-lipped on the numbers and identity of those involved but it has decimated the squad to such an extent they say they cannot field a side this weekend.

The tests were carried out on Tuesday and directors explored all options before requesting the postponement.

Former chairman Bill Clark, who returned to the Rovers boardroom in October after stepping down in August, is adamant Raith have done all they can to keep the virus from the club.

But he says rising cases in wider society have made it difficult to prevent the virus from spreading to the club.

He said: “It could be a member of your family going out shopping to the supermarket, or whatever. You just don’t know and because it’s spreading so quickly in the community you can’t tell.

“It’s rife in the community and unfortunately we’ve found ourselves in this position.”