Gers side in United game ‘not in clear’

JRG launch probe amid suspicion involving up to nine Light Blues players

Rangers have been quizzed by Scottish football’s Joint Response Group (JRG) over claims a Gers B-team that faced Dundee United on Wednesday had not been given the all-clear for Covid-19.

SFA and SPFL chiefs suspect as many as nine of those who featured for Kevin Thomson’s second-string side at the Rangers Training Centre may not have had the required clearance to play in the 4-1 friendly defeat by Micky Mellon’s Tangerines.

The issue was discussed at a meeting on Thursday and the JRG has written to the Ibrox club in search of an explanation.

Courier Sport has asked the Light Blues and United for comment.

Steven Gerrard’s Gers first team faced Motherwell in a bounce game at Ibrox later that night, with the game delayed by two hours as both clubs waited for test results to arrive.

It’s believed the JRG is seeking answers from the Premiership duo on the events leading up to the eventual 8pm kick-off and from Hibs regarding the cancellation of their closed-door clash with Ross County last Saturday.

Ex-Dundee gaffer and former Gers star Neil McCann yesterday expressed sympathy with the teams involved.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Are clubs a wee bit blasé? I don’t think we can underestimate how difficult all of this is trying to properly test and do all these protocols while preparing a team to take part in friendlies, training…everything.

“You’re not just dealing with a small group – it’s 40 or 50 people coming in to training and trying to delegate things, do testing, get results in and ensure the boys are doing things right in the building as well as at home.

“I don’t think we can accuse the clubs of being blasé. Everyone is well aware of the risk here when we don’t do things properly so I wouldn’t be too hard on the clubs.”

Meanwhile, only one member of St Mirren’s backroom staff has been found to have contracted Covid-19 after retesting discovered the other six cases were false positives.

It was feared Scottish football’s big kick-off a week today was set to be thrown into disarray when the Buddies reported a major outbreak late on Thursday night, just nine days before the new season.

But the initial tests carried out by a private laboratory have now been re-examined by NHS experts and only one member of Jim Goodwin’s staff has actually fallen ill with coronavirus.

St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick explained: “We have complied robustly with the official testing and hygiene regimen to the letter, using a private testing facility in accordance with the Scottish Government and the SPFL/SFA Joint Response Group protocols.

“Our players were tested on Monday, July 20, and they have returned 100 per cent negative tests on Wednesday, July 22.

“However test results for seven of the coaching staff undertaken at the same time showed they were positive for Covid-19.

“We immediately implemented strict isolation protocols and made further arrangements for the coaching staff to be retested at NHS testing facilities on Thursday 23rd.

“I’m very pleased to report that six of the subsequent coaching staff tests have now come back negative this morning (Friday 24th).

“The remaining member of the coaching staff has confirmed as a positive test result and continues to be in strict isolation and has not come into contact with any member of the playing or coaching staff since Saturday, July 18.

“The club will continue to support and look after this staff member to ensure a full recovery.”

St Mirren were ordered to axe today’s planned friendly with St Johnstone once the JRG learned of the initial outbreak reports.

But there are no plans to rearrange the game in light of yesterday’s developments.

The JRG have also informed the other 11 top-flight clubs they must revert to twice-weekly testing after the requirements were relaxed earlier this month.

News of the false positives has come as a major relief to the Buddies – who

are due to start their season at home to Livingston – but will raise concerns about the effectiveness of testing methods.

An unnamed Aberdeen player who reported the only other case of coronavirus from the first week of three weeks of testing also turned out to have been falsely diagnosed.

Now St Mirren say they will be reviewing their testing arrangements with the private firm who carried out this week’s tests.

Fitzpatrick added: “We are liaising closely with NHS Scotland, the SPFL and the SFA on next steps.

“We will also be undertaking an urgent review of the private testing arrangement which returned the initial false positive test results.

“Our priority throughout the pandemic has always been the safety and wellbeing both of our staff and players and to ensure we placed public safety at the forefront of our thoughts and actions.

“This will continue to be the club’s top priority as a safe start to the football season is essential.”

Relief for St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick.