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Ian Evatt believes two League Two games being called off due to Covid-19 positive tests is simply a stark reminder of the new normal.
Leyton Orient’s trip to Walsall today is off due to the coronavirus cases in the O’s camp that saw their Carabao Cup tie with Tottenham in midweek cancelled and Spurs handed a spot in the next round.
Then yesterday, Grimsby revealed one of their players has the virus, meaning they will not travel to Cheltenham as planned.
As Evatt prepared his side for today’s game against Newport at the UniBol, the Wanderers head coach believes it is something that will make all in the game sit up and take notice.
“I think it’s a reality check for everyone,” the Whites head coach said. “I don’t think anyone is immune from this virus.
“Everyone can catch it whether you are a professional footballer or a 70, 80-year-old man or woman, whoever.
“This virus doesn’t choose who it enters, it can get to everybody.
“The most important thing for me at the moment is that everyone stays safe, everyone stays healthy, obeys the rules and we get Bolton out of lockdown as soon as we can.”
Games in the fourth tier being shelved due to Covid-19 came in the week that the Government put on hold plans for a limited number of fans to return to stadiums from the start of next month.
Wanderers have surpassed 8,000 season ticket sales and feel the UniBol is well set up for social distancing.
But the wait for supporters to get a closer look at Evatt’s new-look side looks set to go on for some time with fears restrictions could be in place until March.
“It’s tough for us for many reasons,” Evatt said.
“One, home and away we’d have magnificent support, we’d have hopefully 10,000 in this stadium and we’d be taking one or two thousand away from home.
“In League Two, away from home that can make a big difference and be a difference-maker for us.
“But unfortunately this is the world we live in and it’s the same for everybody.
“We have to adapt and overcome. It is what is it.
“It’s also frustrating from our side of things because when we are undergoing this process of getting a new identity, restructuring and trying to change the way we play, it would be nice for the fans to be able to see that process.
“They can’t so all I can do is ask for their patience and ask for positivity and when it changes hopefully they’ll be back in the stadium and we can all reap the rewards from that.”
Despite not getting up close and personal with them, Evatt remains impressed by Wanderers’ fanbase and how they have reacted to the new era.
“The fanbase was a huge part of me taking this job,” he said.
“The support that they give this football club is magnificent and they reiterated that message in my head with how so many of them didn’t ask for refunds from last season.
“The amount that have bought season tickets is incredible.
“Obviously at the moment we cannot have them in but it’s September and I’d much rather have them in in April if we’re at the top end of this division and have them backing us over the line.”
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Leyton Orient’s trip to Walsall today is off due to the coronavirus cases in the O’s camp that saw their Carabao Cup tie with Tottenham in midweek cancelled and Spurs handed a spot in the next round.
Then yesterday, Grimsby revealed one of their players has the virus, meaning they will not travel to Cheltenham as planned.
As Evatt prepared his side for today’s game against Newport at the UniBol, the Wanderers head coach believes it is something that will make all in the game sit up and take notice.
“I think it’s a reality check for everyone,” the Whites head coach said. “I don’t think anyone is immune from this virus.
“Everyone can catch it whether you are a professional footballer or a 70, 80-year-old man or woman, whoever.
“This virus doesn’t choose who it enters, it can get to everybody.
“The most important thing for me at the moment is that everyone stays safe, everyone stays healthy, obeys the rules and we get Bolton out of lockdown as soon as we can.”
Games in the fourth tier being shelved due to Covid-19 came in the week that the Government put on hold plans for a limited number of fans to return to stadiums from the start of next month.
Wanderers have surpassed 8,000 season ticket sales and feel the UniBol is well set up for social distancing.
But the wait for supporters to get a closer look at Evatt’s new-look side looks set to go on for some time with fears restrictions could be in place until March.
“It’s tough for us for many reasons,” Evatt said.
“One, home and away we’d have magnificent support, we’d have hopefully 10,000 in this stadium and we’d be taking one or two thousand away from home.
“In League Two, away from home that can make a big difference and be a difference-maker for us.
“But unfortunately this is the world we live in and it’s the same for everybody.
“We have to adapt and overcome. It is what is it.
“It’s also frustrating from our side of things because when we are undergoing this process of getting a new identity, restructuring and trying to change the way we play, it would be nice for the fans to be able to see that process.
“They can’t so all I can do is ask for their patience and ask for positivity and when it changes hopefully they’ll be back in the stadium and we can all reap the rewards from that.”
Despite not getting up close and personal with them, Evatt remains impressed by Wanderers’ fanbase and how they have reacted to the new era.
“The fanbase was a huge part of me taking this job,” he said.
“The support that they give this football club is magnificent and they reiterated that message in my head with how so many of them didn’t ask for refunds from last season.
“The amount that have bought season tickets is incredible.
“Obviously at the moment we cannot have them in but it’s September and I’d much rather have them in in April if we’re at the top end of this division and have them backing us over the line.”
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