'Majority' of AFC Fylde players able to train again after isolation week says boss Nick Chadwick

Nick Chadwick will focus on the bigger picture of health and safety at AFC Fylde

AFC Fylde boss: National League clubs should play on if possible

However, their hopes of a return to action this weekend have been dashed by the decision to suspend the National League North and South seasons for a fortnight.

All the Coasters’ players and staff have spent the past week in isolation after the club reported positive Covid tests on January 15.

Deputy manager Chadwick told The Gazette: “It started with one case, which we thought was isolated, but then very quickly you have four or five but hopefully we did the right thing in putting everyone in isolation as soon as possible.

“You have to think of the bigger picture and the need to try to protect everyone.”

Fylde were hoping to return to league action at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday. However that game and the following Tuesday’s home clash with Blyth Spartans must now be put back.

The two-week suspension was announced on Friday and came as no great surprise after 12 of the 22 clubs in National League North had publicly called for the stoppage amid financial worries and health fears.

A brief Fylde statement said the club is “disappointed with this decision”.

Chadwick told The Gazette last Thursday that in his view a competition granted ‘elite sport’ status by the government had a responsibility to play on if at all possible.”

The suspension means Fylde will not return to action before visiting Guiseley on February 6, four weeks after their last game at AFC Telford United.

That at least affords the club extra time on the training ground after the Covid cases but Chadwick warns it isn’t simply a case of carrying on where they left off.

He added: “Obviously the players have had a break now and that will have to be a factor in how we train, though for some that break will be beneficial.

“The bigger picture is the health and wellbeing of the players and staff and their families.

“We hope everyone comes back in good health, that’s the first thing.

“We’ll only find out next week who is okay and who needs more time. We need to be patient and put everybody’s health first.”

The financial issues facing National League clubs came to a head last week, when it was confirmed by the league that any additional funding to help the competitions continue without spectators would take the form of loans and not grants.