Saints WFC boss McCrindle backs decision
St Johnstone WFC’s season is on hold.
The decision to pause action through January was announced earlier this week in order to combat the rising threat of coronavirus.
And manager Jason McCrindle believes the correct call has been made by Scottish football authorities.
Both the Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 and 2 were suspended, as well as all levels below the SPFL Championship in the men’s game.
“We had players who were working in professional capacities,”McCrindle said. “Teachers and firefighters.
“There were players who had raised concerns and it was tough for us. We tried to support them.
“We also had players happy to play. As coaches, we were trying to do our best for everybody.
“The right decision has been made. Football is obviously a great thing and we were privileged to be able to play.
“But we are not professional footballers. We have players with professional livelihoods outside of it.”
McCrindle is unsure when exactly his side will be back in action.
Saints currently sit fifth in the table and only four points back from second-placed Dundee United.
“The common-sense approach should be to just see what happens over the next five or six weeks,”added McCrindle.
“We had been asking players to travel the length and breadth of the country to games.
“We were changing outside and not even able to get use of toilets. It was winter and we were travelling after playing in horrible conditions.
“There is talk of raising the profile of women’s professional football. But you want to give them the best.”
Due to not being able to meet as a team in person, fitness sessions will again be going online.
McCrindle said: “We’ve already spoken to the players about organising sessions online. We’ll get that back up and running.
“We’ll have a few wee fun things like quiz nights to keep everyone together and keep spirits high.
“It will also be good to give players some individual feedback on the games we played. I felt we made a good start to the first half of the season. We’re only four points off a playoff place.”