I might have had Covid-19 says Fleetwood Town boss Joey Barton

The Fleetwood Town boss, who has served as a NHS volunteer during the pandemic, suspects he may have had Covid-19 himself and fully recovered.

Barton feels strongly that his squad should be allowed to resume training, and Fleetwood will support the playing of all outstanding fixtures when League One clubs vote over the coming days.

The head coach is convinced players would be in a safe environment if they returned to work.

Barton told fight promoter Eddie Hearn on a Matchroom Boxing podcast: “You have never been safer as a footballer.

“There are going to be tests, temperatures taken, all these things put in place to make sure a football stadium restarting will be safer than most places in society.

“I’ve been going out doing people’s laundry and going to shops for people who can’t get out.

“That’s riskier for me than it will be managing a football match because there will be so much testing and protocols in place.

“There isn’t at the supermarket or pharmacy, where people aren’t tested.”

As for his work as an NHS Volunteer Responder, Barton added: “You go with your gloves on and make sure you are protected.

“You pick something up on the doorstep, drop it off and observe the government guidelines. That’s as safe as it can be.”

Barton feels he may have contracted the virus back in March.

He said: “I don’t want to give it to anybody but I think I might have had it.

“I definitely had something for the first two weeks (of lockdown) and we self-isolated. My missus had it. Fortunately everyone else who lives with us didn’t.

“For the last seven or eight weeks I’ve been fine, no problems at all.”