Matches postponed but Rebels can train
Slough Town won’t play again until December 9 after this week’s game at Chippenham Town and next week’s trip to Ebbsfleet United were postponed due to COVID-19 events.
On the advice of the National League’s medical officer, Tuesday’s trip to Chippenham was called off after a Rebels’ staff member was in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. They have since tested negative for the virus and, while he must isolate for twoweeks, the club is able to return to training in preparation for their next game at Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday, December 9.
Next Tuesdays (December 1) game against the Fleet is postponed after positive COVID-19 tests among that club’s players and support staff. As a result, the club has entered a 14-day isolation period.
“The decision to call off the Chippenham game was because we have a staff member living with someone who has tested positive for COVID,” said joint manager Jon Underwood. “The normal protocol is that we have to inform the league and the decision was taken to call off the game.
“Our game at Ebbsfleet is off because of positive cases at that club. Chippenham was off and that was down to us, but the Ebbsfleet game is down to them having positive cases.
“We’ve seen this in our league now. Bath have had a two-week isolation period.
Welling are in on now and Ebbsfleet United have just announced one. It’s frustrating but it’s right to follow the right protocol.”
When they return to action following this break the Rebels will be looking to arrest a run of form that’s seen them lose four games in a row. On Saturday they were much improved but still lost 2-0 at leaders Dartford.
“We have no game on Saturday because it’s our weekend off as there are an uneven number of teams in our league,” added Underwood. “The following Saturday we were due to come into the FA Trophy, but those sides haven’t been able to play the previous round. We have been looking at options to put a game on that weekend. As it stands it will be two-and-a-half weeks until our next game on December 9.”
Co-manager Neil Baker added: “You’re still going to have this problem with positive tests.
“We’ve had a negative test so we can continue training, but that was very close, a surprise to be honest that the test came back negative.
“We were expecting to be in a two-week lockdown. You’re going to keep having that occur. You’ll have periods where you might be off for two weeks because players get COVID.”