‘We don’t think it’s safe to play’
Hawks enter third self-isolation period in 31 days
Hawks have put themselves into self-isolation for the third time in 31 days as the National League season threatens to descend into farce.
The club’s stance follows news that one of the starting XI at Bath City on Tuesday had reported Covid-19 symptoms. With the test result possibly not being known until tomorrow, Hawks have taken the decision ‘out of the National League’s hands’.
As some of the club’s South division rivals decide not to play this weekend due to the funding crisis that has gripped the league, Westleigh Park CEO Stuart Munro insists health has to be the main priority.
‘It’s not safe to play in the current climate. We have a duty of care to our players, our staff and their families. That is more important than football,’ he declared.
‘We feel it’s our duty of care as a board of directors to look after everyone that we employ.’
Hawks first entered a 10-day self-isolation period on December 22, with a second following on January 4. They had to call off six league games as a result, and another three have now been postponed following the latest self-isolation which started today.
Tomorrow’s trip to Concord has been postponed, as well as next Wednesday’s home game with Dorking and the following Saturday’s visit of Braintree.
Canvey, though, had already stated they weren’t prepared to play this weekend following news that funding for National League clubs would in future be via loans rather than grants.
As well as Concord, two other South division clubs Slough and Tonbridge Angels - have told the National League they want the season suspended while the funding row is sorted out.
Hawks, though, have made their latest decision based purely on health grounds rather than financial ones.
Munro said that after the 10-day self-isolation period is cover, the club’s board will decide ‘whether we feel it’s safe to continue playing. We’ve made the decision today that we don’t think it’s safe.
‘We are taking that decision out of the National League’s hands
‘I said to the manager (Paul Doswell) after the game on Tuesday that the environment isn’t safe - that’s nothing to do with Bath City Football Club, we were very well looked after.
‘We feel we have made the right decision. This is purely a safety issue, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with funding.
‘It is purely a duty of care to our players, staff and families.’
Hawks have spent thousands of pounds making Westleigh Park as Covid-19 safe as possible, but the club have been more badly affected by positive cases than many of their divisional rivals.
‘We have done everything we can but it now looks as if one of our players has got covid again,’ said Munro. ‘We need to make a decision as a board, not to rely on other people making decisions for us. ‘We’ll look at where we are and where the country is after the 10 days.
Hawks have now had 13 games called off in 2020/21
‘Do you think anything’s going to change in 10 days? Probably not, but we’ll see where we are and then make a decision as a board again.’
As it stands, Hawks’ next game is a league trip to Welling United on Tuesday, February 2 - a match that has already been postponed twice due to the pandemic.
That is due to be followed by an FA Trophy last 16 home clash with National League Notts County on Saturday, February 6.