Safety concern

George Grierson says he has serious concerns that the West of Scotland League season can start safely.

And the worried Whitletts boss insists he won’t hesitate to walk away from football if the powers-that-be can’t give realistic assurances that non-league clubs will be able to cope with new Covid-19 guidelines.

Grierson says he’s far from happy with the amount of information clubs have been given regarding what protocols players, coaching staff, officials and fans will be expected to follow in the forthcoming campaign.

And he reckons he’s not the only manager to have grave reservations around a proposed October 10 restart.

“The situation is a joke to be honest,” he said.

“This pandemic is far from over and we still don’t know what fixes will be in place at our level to ensure we can return safely.

“We are no further forward than we were weeks ago.

“How can we seriously be talking about coming back in October. I’m not seeing or hearing about any safe working practices yet and that’s a big concern.

“I’m as keen as anyone to get football back but we shouldn’t be rushing into anything just for the sake of it.

“There are a helluva lot of questions that need answered with hard, cold facts before you’ll convince me that teams at our level can safely get back to playing.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of managers who feel the same way but they are afraid to speak out publicly because they don’t want to look like killjoys.

“For me, the health and safety of my players will always come first.

“We’re not going to get tested at this level, and the players all have other jobs.

“There’s a real risk of infection and spreading there. No testing could be carnage.

“I’m a football manager and I have responsibilities towards my players, but I’m not a doctor.”

Grierson also believes it’s vital that any measures put in place ensure a degree of professional integrity.

He added: “They’re talking about asking players to travel to and from games in their kits and team talks being held on the pitch where changing rooms aren’t big enough to accommodate social distancing.

“I tell you what, if it comes to that, I’ll not be a part of it.

“I’ll not be asking boys to play 90 minutes and then drive home bogging in the same clothes.

“Lesmahagow are in our league. Can you imagine us heading up for a game there, staying out on the park in the pouring rain for 90 minutes then asking boys to stay in their gear as they head home? Sorry, but that’s not for me.

“Team talks on the pitch are a non starter too. I’ll not be rinsing some poor player in public at half-time. It’s bad enough when I do that in the confines of a dressing room.

“We’re supposed to be moving into a professional era within the pyramid system, but none of that is professional in my book.

“I won’t be involved if any of that is the case and I’ve told my chairman John Dalton that.

“I don’t say that lightly either because we are building a really exciting team at Whitletts and we are really ambitious.”