Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
COVID’S A CARR CRASH
Currie fears fixture pile up could wreck Rangers season
CARRICK RANGERS boss Niall Currie says a fixture famine because of Covid has left him staring at one of the most difficult periods of his managerial career.
A combination of circuit breakers, postponements and enforced isolation means the East Antrim club has been starved of action in recent weeks.
They have played only nine league games to date with four of those coming in a 74 day period between early-november and the planned return of football on January 23.
The recent paucity of games dates back to a period of isolation after players came in contact with positive cases during a 4-1 win over Portadown on November 10.
“There are no lucky trees in the current climate, but we have been hit hard and it has been a very difficult situation to manage,” said Currie.
“We were sitting with a wee bit of momentum prior to going into isolation in November after drawing with Dungannon Swifts and beating Portadown 4-1.
“To have that taken from us was hard and to restart after having players sitting in the house for two weeks was also tough. I do feel it had an effect.”
Since returning from isolation, Carrick have lost their last four games over a 10 week period, leaving them perched at the foot of the Danske Bank Premiership.
“Playing only four games in 74 days definitely has an impact – there’s nothing normal about that,” said Currie.
“You also have to factor in that isolation impacts differently on the likes of Carrick to a Linfield or a Larne.
“Other clubs can get back training almost immediately after isolation, whereas we are together for only 90 minutes on a Tuesday and Thursday night.”
With the league scheduled to conclude at the end of May, Currie accepts Carrick are facing a potential fixture logjam over the next five months.
“We are looking at playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday for a period of time and it will stretch our squad, but it is what it is and we’ve no issues with that,” he said.
Currie supports NIFL’S decision to pause the league until January 23 and says a planned testing regime will offer peace of mind to players and officials moving forward.
NIFL confirmed yesterday that an initial four weeks of testing will be in place for the resumption of play later this month.
“Anything that improves the safety and welfare of players and staff is a positive move,” he said. “If testing helps people feel more secure, I welcome that.
““Ultimately we want to keep playing and if testing helps us get back playing again on January 23 and helps us finish the season, that’s a positive.”