captainox
Well-known member
- Joined
- 7 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 2,413
With the continuation of the Crewe debacle, this whole saga sums up the absolute ineptness of the EFL. This season should never have restarted without a clear plan of what to do if/when clubs receive positive tests and the impact on their competitive fixtures. I ended up typing a pretty lengthy research post in the Crewe thread so decided to make it a thread of it's own, if only to highlight the woeful lack of consistency so far this season.
During the play-offs, the agreed EFL guidance around self-isolation and return to training/playing was different to that of the government, I believe due to the fact that clubs were being tested twice a week. Now testing is not mandatory, and surprise surprise, we're starting to see numerous issues relating to it. The lack of clarity or uniform rule is frankly, quite shocking.
This season so far we've had:
Thursday 24th September
Stevenage player reports Covid symptons and is tested.
Friday 25th September
Stevenage player confirmed as positive and beings to self isolate.
Rest of Stevenage squad and staff are tested (club decision)
Stevenage cancel group travel plans for their fixture at Bradford.
Grimsby announce a positive Covid test and their WHOLE squad goes into self-isolation.
Grimsby decide NOT to test the rest of the squad because "the medical advice received was that such testing would be of no effect as the incubation period of the virus being a minimum of five days, with the squad last being in contact with the player three days ago."
Saturday 26th September
Two further Stevenage players receive positive test results following tests on 25th, but, after discussions between the clubs and the EFL, it was decided there was "no medical reason" the game could not take place.
Bradford play Stevenage.
Cheltenham v Grimsby is OFF.
Grimsby confirm that further fixtures v Bradford and Hull will also be postponed as they need to shut down their training ground for 14 days with their chairman saying:
"We were originally told by the EFL’s medical team that there were two alternatives – shut down for 10 days and have a test after nine, and if everybody’s negative after that test, then subject to Bradford agreeing, we could play on the Saturday. I’ve now had an email from the EFL’s medical team saying they have now amended that advice, and the training ground has to be shut down for 14 days."
Friday 2nd October
Crewe travel to and stay in Oxford having had a player report ill during their game on 29th September. Player in question received a positive test - Wintle
Saturday 3rd October
Crewe arrive at OUFC and announce another player (Beckles) who has travelled to Oxford and been amongst them has received a positive test notification that morning.
On receipt of positive test notification, Beckles began to self-isolate. (Beckles personal choice to be tested following Wintle case, and is asymptomatic)
Game eventually called OFF.
Stevenage play Salford
Grimsby v Bradford is OFF.
Tuesday 6th October
Stevenage play MK Dons.
Hull v Grimsby is OFF.
Saturday 10th October
Crewe beat Wigan 3-0. Wintle plays 90 minutes and Beckles plays 77 minutes.
Stevenage play Mansfield.
Grimsby play Bolton.
Tranmere play Salford despite having 6 players unavailable due to Covid reasons (2 positive tests and 4 subsequent self-isolations). They were able to field a team but only by playing players out of position and fielding youth players. Unable to name seven players on the bench.
Tranmere claim they were in contact with the EFL throughout the week in relation to the issue and say they were advised that by not fulfilling the fixture there would be an investigation which could lead to disciplinary charges.
Tuesday 13th October
Oxford v Crewe is called OFF around 4 hours before kick-off.
It's not very often I agree with the Stevenage chairman, but his statement (below) on 25th September made a number of good points and should have seen some actions from the EFL at that point. Instead, here we are over two weeks later, and there is still complete chaos on what the rules are, with different decisions being made practically every matchday, being highlighted by the different approaches and statements by Tranmere, Crewe and the EFL in the past few days. Grimsby actually referred to their own initial postponement issues in relation to Covid circumstances as being at clubs discretion.
STEVENAGE STATEMENT
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 25th September
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 26th September
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 28th September
TRANMERE STATEMENT - 10th October
TRANMERE STATEMENT - 12th October
During the play-offs, the agreed EFL guidance around self-isolation and return to training/playing was different to that of the government, I believe due to the fact that clubs were being tested twice a week. Now testing is not mandatory, and surprise surprise, we're starting to see numerous issues relating to it. The lack of clarity or uniform rule is frankly, quite shocking.
This season so far we've had:
Thursday 24th September
Stevenage player reports Covid symptons and is tested.
Friday 25th September
Stevenage player confirmed as positive and beings to self isolate.
Rest of Stevenage squad and staff are tested (club decision)
Stevenage cancel group travel plans for their fixture at Bradford.
Grimsby announce a positive Covid test and their WHOLE squad goes into self-isolation.
Grimsby decide NOT to test the rest of the squad because "the medical advice received was that such testing would be of no effect as the incubation period of the virus being a minimum of five days, with the squad last being in contact with the player three days ago."
Saturday 26th September
Two further Stevenage players receive positive test results following tests on 25th, but, after discussions between the clubs and the EFL, it was decided there was "no medical reason" the game could not take place.
Bradford play Stevenage.
Cheltenham v Grimsby is OFF.
Grimsby confirm that further fixtures v Bradford and Hull will also be postponed as they need to shut down their training ground for 14 days with their chairman saying:
"We were originally told by the EFL’s medical team that there were two alternatives – shut down for 10 days and have a test after nine, and if everybody’s negative after that test, then subject to Bradford agreeing, we could play on the Saturday. I’ve now had an email from the EFL’s medical team saying they have now amended that advice, and the training ground has to be shut down for 14 days."
Friday 2nd October
Crewe travel to and stay in Oxford having had a player report ill during their game on 29th September. Player in question received a positive test - Wintle
Saturday 3rd October
Crewe arrive at OUFC and announce another player (Beckles) who has travelled to Oxford and been amongst them has received a positive test notification that morning.
On receipt of positive test notification, Beckles began to self-isolate. (Beckles personal choice to be tested following Wintle case, and is asymptomatic)
Game eventually called OFF.
Stevenage play Salford
Grimsby v Bradford is OFF.
Tuesday 6th October
Stevenage play MK Dons.
Hull v Grimsby is OFF.
Saturday 10th October
Crewe beat Wigan 3-0. Wintle plays 90 minutes and Beckles plays 77 minutes.
Stevenage play Mansfield.
Grimsby play Bolton.
Tranmere play Salford despite having 6 players unavailable due to Covid reasons (2 positive tests and 4 subsequent self-isolations). They were able to field a team but only by playing players out of position and fielding youth players. Unable to name seven players on the bench.
Tranmere claim they were in contact with the EFL throughout the week in relation to the issue and say they were advised that by not fulfilling the fixture there would be an investigation which could lead to disciplinary charges.
Tuesday 13th October
Oxford v Crewe is called OFF around 4 hours before kick-off.
It's not very often I agree with the Stevenage chairman, but his statement (below) on 25th September made a number of good points and should have seen some actions from the EFL at that point. Instead, here we are over two weeks later, and there is still complete chaos on what the rules are, with different decisions being made practically every matchday, being highlighted by the different approaches and statements by Tranmere, Crewe and the EFL in the past few days. Grimsby actually referred to their own initial postponement issues in relation to Covid circumstances as being at clubs discretion.
STEVENAGE STATEMENT
Positive COVID-19 test at Stevenage FC, Chairman calls for clarity on testing
Stevenage FC had a player report with mild COVID-19 symptoms yesterday...
www.stevenagefc.com
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 25th September
Club News - Grimsby Town Football Club
www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 26th September
An Update From The Club
We are aware of a number of questions from fans regarding the confusion arising from the decision for the Bradford v Stevenage game today to go ahead despite three Stevenage players testing positive for Covid compared to the decision to postpone our game at Cheltenham today because of one positive t
www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk
GRIMSBY STATEMENT - 28th September
Club News - Grimsby Town Football Club
www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk
TRANMERE STATEMENT - 10th October
Club Statement: This weekend's game at Salford City
Tranmere Rovers Football Club can tonight confirm two first team players have tested positive for Covid-19.The two players were not involved in today’s game at Salford City, and are now self-isolating.
www.tranmererovers.co.uk
TRANMERE STATEMENT - 12th October
Club Statement
Tranmere Rovers FC is disappointed in the EFL's factually inaccurate, and therefore misleading, statement regarding the Covid situation at the Club. The EFL state that Tranmere contacted the EFL once last week with a specific query relating to U21 players.
www.tranmererovers.co.uk
Last edited: