‘THERE HAVE BEEN CORONAVIRUS ISSUES AT OTHER CLUBS, SO I’M CONVINCED WE WILL HAVE A PAUSE’
LEEK Town chairman Jon Eeles admits it is inevitable that his side’s season will suffer further disruption because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Blues’ Northern Premier League South East Division campaign started late because of the virus, while a couple of local clubs have been forced to call off games after returning positive tests.
Nantwich, Eccleshall and Rocester have both announced that matches will have to be rearranged after members of their respective clubs contracted coronavirus.
And Eeles believes that at some point Leek’s schedule may be put on the back burner.
“At some point we are going to have a pause,” said Eeles. “There have been Covid issues at other clubs and the law of averages says that at some point it will affect us. I am convinced of it.
“We have four or five players who work in schools and there have been issues in schools.
“Everyone is being very careful and sensible. Training and playing is low risk, it is other aspects of life where people can be exposed.
“We have government and football guidelines to adhere to, but when public health get involved they take a firmer stance.
“We’ve already seen Nantwich and Rocester have cases, so you would have to say other clubs are going to be affected further down the line.”
Leek, who were in action against Market Drayton last night, have been playing under strict guidelines since the season started last month.
That has included limiting fans to 400 per game, as well as implementing social distancing measures at Harrison Park.
“We got to grips with things early on because we had three home games in quick succession,” explained Eeles.
“By the second and third matches it was routine what people were doing and the spectators were well behaved and used common sense.
“Then the guidelines have been changed a bit and now in the hospitality area you have to wear a mask. We are still running it as a takeaway service, but you ask people to do one thing and then you have to get used to doing something else.
“We’ve been delighted by the attendances. The three home matches have seen two crowds of 400 and one of 370, which are all above our average last season.
“The attendance last night would probably not have been as high as that. With all due respect to Market Drayton, they don’t take a huge number of fans away, the kids are back at school and also the weather has been miserable.”
On the pitch it has been an inconsistent start by Neil Baker’s side. They were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first qualifying round stage by Mickleover, and have won just one of their opening three league matches.
Leek were hoping for a threepoint haul last night as they attempt to replicate last season’s superb run to the top of the table, which saw them on the brink of promotion before the season was suspended and then declared null and void.
“It’s been stop-start on the pitch,” added Eeles, pictured. “We were decent against Sporting Khalsa, very good against Wisbech, pretty decent against Mickleover, poor at Kidsgrove and a bit better at Sutton on Saturday.
“There have been some strange results so far in the league, though.
“It was disappointing not to progress in the FA Cup, but it isn’t as big a deal as it has been in previous seasons from a financial point of view.
“With the prize money being cut, it has cost us £2,000 possibly, rather than £10,000 like it would have been in past years.”