Jon: ‘It feels like we’re putting players at risk’
Slough Town FC: Playing matches ‘doesn’t feel consistent’ with COVID-19 restrictions
Joint boss Jon Underwood admits he has some reservations about the Rebels playing matches behind closed doors while the rest of the country is being urged to stay at home in an attempt to halt the rapid spread of COVID-19.
The club will continue to play its matches, with the Rebels due to visit Oxford City on Boxing Day, however, the Rebels management team – and many of the players – have expressed their concerns about playing matches and training when a new strain of the virus is taking hold across the south east. Further to this the players were due to meet for training on Tuesday this week just days before many of them were set to spend Christmas day with their families and elderly relatives.
Joint manager Neil Baker has also decided to take a short break from the game to care for his unwell father, so Underwood will be in sole charge of the team on match days until the end of January at the earliest.
“I guess we have some safety concerns,” said Underwood.
“All of the clubs are bending over backwards to make the
grounds safe as they can be, but when you hear about the new strain of the virus and the measures being taken.
“For example, people aren’t allowed to see family on Boxing Day, but we can have 20 plus players in a changing room.
“That doesn’t quite feel right to me, it doesn’t feel consistent with what everyone else is having to do in other walks of life. The league has tried to reinforce some of the rules, with substitutes now having to sit in the stand, socially distant from everyone else, but they’re doing that after being sat next to each other in the changing room, rubbing shoulders with each other in some of the smaller changing rooms. It feels like we’re putting on a show, ticking boxes but not actually looking after players’ safety.”
The Rebels have made their feelings clear to the National League, with Underwood feeling it would be wrong of them to not say anything.
He also wonders whether the squad are needlessly being put at risk, with football a secondary concern to the health and well-being of the players, management team and their families.
“We’ve had some of the players come to us this week with their concerns,” said Underwood.
“We’re training tomorrow night (Tuesday) and some, not all, of the players are then seeing family on Christmas day and might be seeing elderly relatives.
“This after coming into train with 20 other lads a few days before. So, we do have concerns about whether we’re doing the right thing and have made these known to the league.
“It’s not about us saying we’re not going to fulfil fixtures. We’re not saying we’re not going to turn up at Oxford City on Boxing Day, but we want to do things the right way and just saying nothing doesn’t feel like the right thing to do.
“I think Bakes’ (Neil Baker’s) situation highlights this.
“The reason he is taking a step back is because he doesn’t feel football is a safe environment for him to be in at the moment.
“The message from Government is that we shouldn’t be doing anything that’s not absolutely critical. As much as we love our football, it’s not critical. When we pushed for the play-offs to be played in July all of us had to take a test once a week and at that point in the country, restrictions were being relaxed and the various indicators, the R rate, were in a much better place.
“But at the moment we’re being asked to continue playing without any testing and it feels like we’re putting players into a situation that puts them at risk, and potentially puts members of their family at risk, and that doesn’t feel right.
“You only have to look at our league now. Off the top of my head Chelmsford have had positive cases along with Billericay, Welling, Chippenham and Ebbsfleet United. Chesham in the league below have had three players test positive and Binfield have had seven or eight cases.
“Everything you read would suggest the virus is spiralling out of control and we’re merrily carrying on with what we’re doing. I have real concerns about it.
“I love the fact that I’ve been able to carry on doing what I love and get out of the house three times a week, but it doesn’t feel right at the moment,” he added.