Why Doncaster Rovers boss is fearful of football's ability to continue through current Covid crisis

Moore was a member of the advisory committee which helped formulate plans and procedures for the top flight’s Project Restart amid the pandemic last summer and knows first hand how strict the guidelines are for clubs.

Both Manchester City and Fulham have this week postponed fixtures due to outbreaks of the virus at the respective clubs.

And Moore admits that has him more concerned about the game’s immediate future than the current crisis which has hit League One clubs, including his own.

“When you look towards the Premier League, I was honoured to be part of the medical team when they were putting Project Restart together and seeing the procedures of what they’re going through at that level,” he told the Free Press.

“To see games called off at that level you know how serious this virus is.

“At that level they feel they’ve got the real medical knowledge, procedures, facilities and manpower to keep it at bay.

“When they’re calling games off at that level that’s when you know the whole football structure is in doubt when it comes to playing games.”

Rovers were forced to call off four matches after five players tested positive for Covid-19.

Their scheduled trip to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday was one of seven matches in League One postponed due to outbreaks of the virus.

There have been calls for a ‘circuit-breaker’ temporary halting of play in the division. Moore would not go as far as to support such calls but admits he has been shocked by the scale of the current crisis in League One.

“When I looked on Tuesday night at what should have been a full programme and seeing who was actually playing, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“Doncaster Rovers as a football club have been absolutely impeccable in following the procedure as a football club and it’s still bitten us.

“And it looks as though it’s going to bite a few more as well.”

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