Blackpool and Fleetwood Town's League One promotion rivals call for 'football circuit breaker' in response to recent outbreaks

It comes after the Tractor Boys confirmed the new strain of the coronavirus is behind an outbreak within Paul Lambert’s squad.

Lambert and five other members of his playing staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday evening, which led to the postponement of the club’s next two games.

Sunderland, who were due to play Blackpool tonight, Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United have been forced to cancel games in recent days due to outbreaks.

Portsmouth’s upcoming game against Swindon Town is also under threat following a “widespread” outbreak at the Fratton Park club.

Ipswich say the new strain of the virus, which is thought to spread more quickly, is the reason for the outbreak and believe their last game, against Burton Albion on December 15, could be the source.

Matt Byard, the lead physio at Portman Road, believes a significant break in action - January 9 has been mooted as a potential return date - could help break chains of transmission and maintain safety for all involved.

“In previous cases at clubs, the confirmatory source can normally be isolated down to a coach journey or a lengthy meeting indoors,” Byard said.

“We however, have had the same protocols in place since we started pre-season training.

“We have only had two cases here in nine months [Kayden Jackson and Matt Gill] so to get seven in one week is alarming.

“I have looked at every avenue and the only scenario for transmission has to be our match against Burton last week and because it seems to have been passed on in a matchday environment, it is confirmation of a new development. We still have stringent protocols in place in terms of use of the dressing-rooms, I might add.

“This new strain of the virus clearly transmits far quicker than the original Covid strain and we have the data and symptom profile that confirms that is what we are dealing with here.

“We have tested all the playing and coaching staff and from the results, we can detect the level of infection and see the patterns emerging, however it’s the speed of the transmission that tells us it’s the new strain.

“We will be re-testing all the staff on Wednesday who have previously tested negative and I do have concerns that there will be more positive cases.

“We have been complimented by the EFL for the procedures we have had in place at the training ground and on matchday - and that is one of the reasons they have become very concerned over the latest developments.

“I know the EFL are looking at bringing in extra measures, with maybe more testing for example.

“I have always supported routine testing to secure a return to playing programme. Personally, with so many clubs affected by this presently and this new strain development, football may benefit from a ‘circuit breaker’ before a return to playing securely.”

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