Blues to make later restart in mission to look after players
LEEK Town are preparing to return to Northern Premier League action... but their resumption has been pushed back a few days.
The national coronavirus lockdown comes to an end on December 2, with non-league football being given the green light to restart on Saturday, December 5.
Blues are scheduled to be away at Loughborough Dynamo, but won’t be playing the South East Division encounter on that day.
Chairman Jon Eeles said: “We’ve been given notice by the league that we will resume on December 5. That would mean just one training session for the players on the Thursday before the games resume.
“But the league have said both teams have to agree to play on that date, and we’ve not agreed to it.
“One training session is not enough because we have to look at player welfare. It’s now been moved to the Tuesday night (December 8).
“Ideally Neil (Baker, Leek boss) and the management would want a full week o prepare after such a month away, but two sessions will be better than one.
“Loughborough wanted to play on the Saturday. We had discussions over the weekend and we’re not being difficult.
“We won’t be getting a competitive advantage because all teams are in the same boat.”
Eeles, pictured, is still waiting to find out whether Leek fans will be able to make the trip.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will outline tomorrow which tiers particular areas fall in to.
Supporters, in limited numbers, would be allowed to attend games in Tiers One and Two, but not in Tier Three.
It has been a strange time for the players, but Eeles says every effort has been made to keep engaged during the temporary suspension.
“We’ve been in regular contact with the management and the players,” explained Eeles.
“There is a Whatsapp group and posts have been put in there daily to keep spirits up.
“The players have been doing their work and fitness programmes, but it will still be a bit strange when we do restart.
“It might feel a bit like preseason until everyone gets back in to the swing of things.”
Leek won 3-2 at Ilkeston in their final match before lockdown earlier this month to ensure they top the table.
They are hoping to make amends for last season when they were on course for promotion before the season was suspended in March.
It was subsequently declared null and void, meaning Leek were denied the chance to take their place in the Premier Division.
Eeles admits that if they are to take the next step this time around, they will have to do it the hard way.
“The season has been extended by two weeks until May 22, but even so, it is very possible that in April and May teams will have to play three times a week to get games in.
“There’s going to be injuries and clubs who have larger squads or are able to bring players in equipped.
“It’s difficult for the league to keep everyone happy, but it is a tough ask for clubs. From our point of view, we will have to play 30 games in 22 weeks - and that’s before you account for postponements because of the weather or Covid issues.”
Eeles is hopeful of completing this season, but concedes that it’s not a given.
“After last year there is that concern about finishing, but will be better it would be disastrous for football if that happens again,” he said. “Maybe they will look at a points per game method after a certain number of games if it’s not finished.
“We want to do the very best we can and over the last five years people have worked very hard to help us to achieve success.
“We’ve already said that if we want to be successful this season we’re going to have to do it the hard way.”