Boss of Portsmouth rival Gillingham slams EFL for 'neglect of duty' after Fleetwood game is given go-ahead

The League One fixture at Priestfield Stadium was fulfilled just days after the Cod Army took on Accrington.

Since that midweek match at the Wham Stadium, eight Accy players have tested positive for coronavirus, with the Lancashire side’s game against Bristol Rovers subsequently postponed.

Fleetwood were, however, allowed to face Gillingham – despite none of their squad having a Covid test.

And that decision angered Evans.

Speaking to the Kent Messenger after his side suffered a 2-0 defeat, the Gills boss said: ‘They (the league) have really put all the players and staff at this football club under enormous pressure, leading into the game.

‘You cannot, as a Football League board, allow Accrington Stanley to have a minimum of nine or 10 positive cases and send Fleetwood, from a tier three area without a test, to come to the county of Kent and put people in hotels at risk, and everyone on that pitch at risk.

‘That is why the benches were separated, because I insisted on it.

‘Everyone was at risk in the stadium because, in my opinion and the professional medical opinion of the club, there would have been Covid off that team bus, or a probability of it. That is a real problem for the Football League.’

Evans, who witnessed his side suffer a similar 2-0 defeat against Pompey last Tuesday night, added: ‘It is neglect of duty from the EFL. It’s just a shambles, it really is.

‘I hope I am not coughing and spluttering on Monday because I am probably the person in the ground with the biggest problem.

‘I am nearly 60 and overweight, but one of the reasons (it was played) was because Fleetwood’s players are not showing any symptoms. Do they know what Covid is?

‘It could take 10 or 12 days to nest in your body but you would still test positive.

‘They have no symptoms? Do me a favour. What does being on the board of the EFL mean?

‘It means you have to act responsibly to the clubs. Have they acted responsibly for us, a club that is also from a tier three area to play one in tier one?’

Accrington’s home game against Rovers was one of two League One games postponed on Saturday because of coronavirus issues.

Oxford United’s fixture against Swindon was also called off.

Saturday’s League One results: Blackpool 1-0 MKDons, Burton Albion 1-1 AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Crewe Alexandra, Hull City 1-2 Peterborough United, Lincoln City 1-0 Ipswich Town, Northampton Town 0-2 Charlton Athletic, Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Rochdale, Wigan 1-1 Plymouth Argyle.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.