Goodwin: Hibs Covid crisis is a wake-up call

JIM GOODWIN believes the Covid outbreak which left Hibs with just eight fit players should act as a reality check for Scottish football. The Easter Road club have been decimated by the spread of coronavirus amongst players and staff, with their Premiership clash against Ross County now postponed twice. Forced to miss his side’s meeting with Celtic in August after contracting the virus himself, St Mirren boss Goodwin says the Hibs example is a reminder to everyone that the virus has not gone yet. ‘I think Hibs is maybe just a reality check,’ said Goodwin (pictured). ‘I can only speak from our point of view. We have not dropped our guard here. ‘The players still know what their responsibilities are. They are wearing masks in the corridors. We still have the social distancing in place when they are dining in the canteen or in the dressing room. ‘I know we are doing things properly here to the best of our ability and what happened at Hibs in the last week or so was a bit of a reality check to remind society that we are still in the middle of a very serious pandemic. ‘It spreads like wildfire and Hibs have been very unlucky, I think. It only takes one or two players to get it and, before you know it, ten or 12 boys have got it. ‘We sympathise with them and hope that everybody is okay and not too seriously affected.’ Hibs returned two positive test results on the day of a game in Dingwall last Saturday, with close contact protocols making it impossible to field a team. The SPFL quickly rearranged the fixture for Wednesday night before that game — and Saturday’s meeting with Livingston — was called off when it became clear Jack Ross would still be short of players. League chiefs have now rearranged the Ross County game for Wednesday, November 24, with the Livingston fixture rescheduled for Wednesday, December 8. County remain deeply unhappy over the loss of hospitality and gate revenue after the game was moved from a weekend to midweek. Unless a formal complaint comes from the Highlanders, however, the SPFL are unlikely to investigate the way Hibs handled the outbreak. Describing that as a victory for common sense after St Mirren and Kilmarnock successfully fought league efforts to fine them and award points to opponents after Covid outbreaks last season, Goodwin added: ‘I’m glad to see there is a bit more compassion going around this time than there was last season. ‘The big thing for me last season was that, everywhere else in Europe and down the road in England, there were games being called off left, right and centre because of Covid and they were just rearranged for the next available date. ‘I do sympathise with the SPFL and SFA because I know there is not a huge number of dates available in the calendar to squeeze games in. ‘But clubs need to be prepared to play four games in a week if that’s the necessary requirement. ‘We have to make sure the league is completed properly. But we don’t want it to be farcical either. ‘Hibs don’t want to be playing a game in the Premiership with 16-year-olds running around, being turned over 5-0. ‘We do have to be sensible about the situation and I do think common sense is being used at the moment.’