Blackpool boss Neil Critchley hopeful Wigan game will go ahead if no more players test positive

The club announced prior to Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Brighton & Hove Albion that they had returned five positive tests following the latest mandatory testing.

With Demetri Mitchell already self-isolating, and Daniel Gretarsson, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton injured, Blackpool are without nine first-team players.

The players and staff were tested again yesterday, with results expected before the 7pm League One fixture at the DW Stadium.

If further positives are returned, then the game could be in doubt.

Head coach Neil Critchley told The Gazette: “That would maybe change what happens. We spoke to the EFL on Monday and if there are no more positive tests they’re happy for us to play.

“However, they did say if there are some positive tests, then a new conversation would have to take place and we’d have to decide the right thing to do.”

While the five who tested positive haven’t been named, regular first-teamers Dan Ballard, Ollie Turton, Kenny Dougall and Grant Ward weren’t involved in the fourth-round defeat at Brighton.

Saturday’s home game against Burton Albion is also in doubt following a Covid outbreak in the Brewers squad, forcing them to postpone tonight’s game against Shrewsbury Town.

But Critchley is solely focused on the trip to the DW Stadium and is refusing to look too far ahead. “With what’s happened over the last few days, I’ve not even looked that far,” he added.

“I saw the news about Burton’s game being called off but I wouldn’t want to comment too much on it. We’re just concentrating on the Wigan game.

“We tested all of our players on Monday but no-one displayed any symptoms over the weekend or on Monday morning. No-one turned up feeling unwell.

“We have to wait for those test results to come back on Tuesday morning but we’re in rhythm and the league is our sole focus now.

“We’ve got 25 games to go. We want to get back to winning ways and get on a run like we had prior to Christmas.”

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