Ipswich boss gives thoughts on if Portsmouth had to lift Leasing.com Trophy inside an empty Wembley

There’s a strong chance games will be played behind closed doors if the season does resume amid the coronavirus crisis.

Football has been on shutdown for almost four weeks as the pandemic worsens throughout the country.

Pompey were due to return to the national stadium last Sunday to face Salford in the Leasing.com Trophy final.

More than 50,000 members of the Fratton faithful were set to descend on the capital, which would have been a record for the biggest single fanbase present for a domestic fixture at new Wembley as a neutral venue.

Should the encounter be rearranged, it could take place without any spectators present.

While Lambert wouldn’t be comfortable with no supporters in stadiums, he'd accept the decision if it was the only way to conclude the campaign.

Speaking to Ipswich’s website, the Scot said: ‘There are a few reasons this season has to finish.

‘For us, we have a good chance to be involved in the promotion race and for football in general, there are too many questions left to answer for the season to be null and void.

‘In an ideal world, we will finish the season with supporters in stadiums. The timescale is the problem, we just don’t know when we will be able to start again.

‘We may have to accept that we play behind closed doors when the season resumes. I don’t like that.

‘Football is for the fans and I can guarantee you that it won’t feel the same if you are winning games and lifting trophies if there are no fans there.

‘Liverpool have waited 30 years to win the league. Imagine them celebrating at Anfield with no one there.

‘People’s lives are more important than football though and if it means we have to go down the closed doors route, we will just have to accept it.’

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