Hawks boss Doswell: ‘I’m not prepared to put myself in a position where I could catch Covid’

Indeed, the Westleigh Park boss is concerned about his own health and believes the 2020/21 National League season should be binned.

The 66 clubs across the three divisions have been given the option of suspending the campaign in the wake of the funding crisis.

Handed grants for the final three months of last year, clubs were this week told any future handouts would be in the shape of loans.

The National League could well make a decision today on whether the season is paused, but Doswell insists the health issues far outweigh the financial ones.

Hawks had previously called off six National League South games due to entering two 10-day periods of self-isolation following positive Covid test results.

‘It’s been abundantly clear for two or three weeks with the number of positive tests we’ve had within the camp,’ Doswell said.

‘Roarie Deacon’s father passing away had a huge impact on everybody, (kitman) Richie Pope being told he was one night away from possibly passing away had a huge impact on everyone, our chairman (Derek Pope) and his wife (Sue) have been very ill, the last few weeks has really affected everybody.’

CEO Stuart Munro was ill for a fortnight and Hawks players have also suffered, including former Pompey defender Sam Magri.

‘Seeing someone like Sam who’s 26 and fit as a fiddle saying he felt like he had someone sat on his chest for a few days,’ Doswell reported.

‘I think what really hit home was we were in a very small dressing room (at Bath) on Tuesday night, 19 of us were in that dressing room … now it looks like one of our other players has got coronavirus.’

Doswell admitted he has his own health concerns, having type 2 diabetes and possibly requiring insulin injections.

‘I’m not prepared to put myself in the position where I could catch it,’ he remarked.

‘I have underlying health issues and I would be very, very vulnerable to catching the virus. I have too much respect for my family, certainly with my wife in terms of the responsibilities I have left, to put myself in that position as well.

‘We asked the senior players and they backed the decision, they don’t feel safe.

‘It’s just enough now, we’ve had two 10-day self-isolations - Craig Robson wasn’t there on Tuesday night because his partner’s got Covid.

‘From a football perspective, we’re picking teams around coronavirus, we’re not picking teams around what I would call sporting integrity.

‘My personal view is that the season should be suspended and my personal opinion is that I don’t think the season should continue full stop.

‘Lives are far more important than football, and for me to say that says something. It’s got to the point that this is unsafe.

‘We couldn’t live with ourselves if one of our players took it home and passed it onto their parents.

‘There’s no question in my mind that Richie Pope got it from someone in this club, he’s then passed it onto his parents, passed it onto Stuart .. to see how ill Stuart was for two, three weeks has made it much more stark reality.

‘It’s a very brave but a very sensible decision by the board (to go into self-isolation again).

‘Take it out of the National League’s hands, I don’t think they’re looking at the safety aspect anywhere near enough, they’re just trying to get through a season that’s not worth playing anyway.’

Munro revealed he spoke to Doswell’s wife, Kate, on Wednesday. ‘She outlined her concerns for her husband, her family,’ Munro revealed. ‘When the manager’s wife says to me ‘I’m not happy with my husband going to football, and what’s happened at this club previously, and then … let’s be honest, we’ve buried our heads in the sand too much as football supporters … you can’t self-isolate in a 5 x 5 dressing room properly.

‘Paul’s got type 2 diabetes. I’m not just protecting our manager, I’m protecting a very good friend of mine. It is my responsibility as CEO of this football club to protect everyone involved.’