Coronavirus: Former Portsmouth and Bournemouth midfielder fears for Hawks team-mates and footballers' mental welfare

The former Pompey and Bournemouth midfielder is worried reduced exercise and potential financial issues could have a detrimental psychological impact on players across the game, and in sport as a whole. Fogden and his Hawks team-mates were sent home from training on Tuesday with no idea of when they can return to work because of the coronavirus epidemic. Currently, the National League have suspended all matches until at least April 3 while there is a blanket ban on all grassroots football for the foreseeable future. No fixtures means little, if any, revenue for clubs in the non-league pyramid at this moment. That brings its own pressures, with real concerns being expressed about the future of teams in the EFL and below. And Fogden admitted the worry of not being paid past this month, along with no training for the foreseeable future, could greatly impact his team-mates and others footballers' mental state. ‘I think already it’s been really tough (mentally),' he admitted. ‘Even going home on the Tuesday and sitting in during the evening, it was kind of a cooped up feeling. ‘You’re not able to go out and do the job you love and the one that you’re there for. ‘Mentally it’s going to be a real issue for a lot of people. ‘Not having that team mentality and going out and exercising. ‘That is one of the biggest things that helps mental health issues. ‘I can see a lot of problems coming in the future, if it isn’t a quick fix. 'It’s that unknown territory. ‘There are people who have families, mortgages and things like that. ‘It’s going to be a real worry if that does happen. ‘We’d hope that people will help out in terms of the FA and filter money down. ‘It feels like it’s inevitable that clubs will go out of business. ‘There are going to be so many players that don’t have that income to come into them. ‘Our club, we’ve moved from part-time to almost full-time this season. ‘People have given up their regular jobs and they kind of rely on this income. ‘Everyone is going to be in a similar position, whether it’s football, landlords, pubs, restaurant owners.' Hawks director Trevor Brock told The News earlier this week that 'half of the teams in the National League South risk going out of business' if some help is not provided. Meanwhile, managing director of Dagenham & Redbridge, Steve Thompson, has come out and said the government need to 'offer a bailout' to clubs in the National League. Those views are echoed by Fogden, who feels some support needs to arrive for teams outside the Football League. ‘Like I say, if there isn’t help available for the non-league clubs than so many clubs could evaporate, which nobody wants to see,' he added. ‘I think something needs to happen. ‘I don’t know what it is, if I’m honest. It gives people such relief and entertainment as well. ‘Without those clubs it’s going to damage a lot of people. ‘It’s just a difficult situation. It’s the unknown. ‘We’re just going on releases from the government and things like that to see if any money will filter down to help these clubs.' There are real concerns that the Hawks and other teams up and down the country will not play again this season. Both the Premier League and EFL have stated their desire for the current campaign to be concluded. But Fogden insisted the non-league pyramid should also be completed as well - though players would need at least 'two or three weeks' training before returning to finish off the remaining games of 2019/20. ‘From what the Premier League and EFL are saying, they want the season to be finished,’ remarked the man who made 28 Pompey appearances in 2014 and 2015. ‘I think rightly so, whenever that may be. ‘Everybody is owed a finish, whether that be the staff, players or the clubs. ‘Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later. ‘I’m not really sure what playing behind closed doors would do, I’ve heard talk of that. ‘But the non-league clubs financially benefit from the crowds. ‘At the top, gate receipts are not a main percentage for them. ‘But playing behind closed doors for us, we’re still not going to get any money through the gate. ‘People aren’t going to go to the bar and spend a bit of money, that’s not going to help our situation. ‘When the season finishes at the end of April, start of May you have six or seven weeks off. ‘You then do a six week pre-season. ‘If we’re having six or seven weeks off now, do they have a six-week pre-season? ‘Do you fasttrack it and say you’ve got maybe two or three weeks off for next season? ‘It’s not going to be ideal but it really does depend on what the future holds in terms of what the thinking is for the season after.'