SECOND Saints player tests positive for Covid-19

ST MIRREN last night revealed that a SECOND player has now tested positive for Covid-19. And the shock development has left tomorrow’s visit of Hibs at risk of being called off. Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick was forced into quarantine after returning a positive test during the Paisley club’s weekly tests. His flat-mate, Hamilton defender Lee Hodson, also had to self-isolate as a result. But now the news of a second St Mirren player testing positive after the most recent round of testing has left the Paisley club reeling. A club statement read: ‘Following the most recent

round of Covid testing, St Mirren football club can confirm that a second player has tested positive for Covid-19. This comes following the news of the positive test earlier this week. ‘The club can confirm that it has followed all protocol to the letter and has informed all relevant authorities. ‘We will be making no further comment at this time.’ The possible cancellation of the St Mirren-Hibs clash would be a further blow for the Scottish game, already in a state of anxiety after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon delayed the return of supporters to games until October 5 at the earliest due to a spike in coronavirus cases. Yesterday, Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer said he fears clubs will go bust unless fans are allowed back into football grounds soon. Two Premiership test events — Aberdeen v Kilmarnock and Ross County against Celtic — will still go ahead before 300 fans tomorrow. But plans for toptier games to be watched by 750 fans next weekend have now been shelved, with further proposals judged on a ‘case by case’ basis. Scottish clubs are bracing themselves for a winter of hardship if supporters are locked out of football until 2021. With a UEFA benchmark report showing that Scottish Premiership clubs are more dependent on match-day revenue than in most other European leagues, Killie manager Dyer fears the situation is now reaching crisis point. ‘I saw that report and no clubs anywhere can survive without spectators if we’re asked to go without them indefinitely,’ he said. ‘We need to get them back but, until we go ahead, we just need to carry on. I know clubs are going to suffer, and they have been suffering, but there’s nothing we can do... just carry on like this until we’re told otherwise. ‘Either someone will tell us one day that we can have supporters back in the stadium or someone else will tell us one day that we can’t carry on (as a club) because that’s how it is. It’ll come to an end one day, whether that’s good or it’s bad for us.’ Footballers, managers, chief executives and staff have been subjected to wage cuts and deferrals since the sport shut down in March and Dyer (pictured) is convinced that more hardship is unavoidable. ‘It’s a big issue because we’re talking about people’s livelihoods,’ he said. ‘This is something that will happen to footballers and to the rest of the general public. ‘We can only hope things will turn around and we can get rid of this virus so everyone can get on with their lives again. ‘Right now, we’re grateful that games are taking place at all and that the players can come in here and train because there are plenty of people who, for one reason or another, can’t work from home. ‘We’re lucky we can come in here every day and work in a safe environment and that’s why it’s important the players and coaching staff respect the opportunity we have and listen to what the government says by doing the right stuff at the right time.’ Last month’s Pro14 meeting between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors was watched by 700 supporters at Murrayfield and remains the only pilot event given the green light in Scotland so far. The SPFL hoped all six games in the top tier next weekend might be watched by 750 fans at each with a view to incrementally increasing the number of fans attending. But Sturgeon said Scotland is likely to remain in phase three of lockdown restrictions ‘for some time yet’.