SUSPENSION DECISION THE RIGHTMOVE FOR MCGLYNN

Raith Rovers manager John Mcglynn insists the decision to suspend lower league football in Scotland is a “sensible” one.

And Mcglynn admits the SFA’S insistence that Championship clubs now also must test their staff and players for Covid-19 will give him greater peace of mind following a recent spell in hospital.

The Stark’s Park club had tonight’s planned Scottish Cup clash at Stirling Albion postponed as a result of the three week shutdown that affects teams, including women’s football, in all leagues outside the top two divisions.

As a second tier outfit, Raith will be able to continue and Mcglynn insists he backs the new regulations enforced by the football authorities.

Mcglynn said: “It’s a sensible approach, part-time clubs have got players who could possibly mingle at work and it’s only common sense.

“On the other hand, we want the whole nation to be healthier and to try and stay clear of Covid, the NHS beds are getting full of people who are ill. We all love our football but I think it’s a sensible approach.”

Meanwhile, Dunfermline chairman Ross Mcarthur accepts it would be “churlish” of Championship clubs to balk at the cost of testing players to keep their season going after they benefited from a £500,000 government grant.

He said: “At the start of the season, we had discussed this as a group of (Championship) clubs and said it may well come to this, with the second wave.

“And the second wave, because of this new strain, is probably more severe than we had anticipated.

“So, I think everybody will just be philosophical about it, that it’s just a step we’re going to have to take to continue playing.

“The Championship is different, obviously, to the other two senior leagues below, in that we’re predominantly full-time.

“We’ve got the government grant, so it would be churlish to talk about the cost of the testing, when we’ve just been given that grant.

“We’ve just to get on and get it done and recognise it’s there for everybody’s safety and protection.”

Mcarthur admits the current scenario is simply another testing time for Scottish football.

He added: “We’ve just got to be philosophical and accept that it is what it is.”