Peterhead manager Jim McInally reckons it is time that the reality of going to a football match in the manner fans did before the coronavirus emerged is gone for a lengthy period was accepted across the country.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raised the issue of football not returning to normal until a Covid-19 vaccine is available, which could be as far away as 2021, and McInally agrees that the game is facing a lengthy hiatus.
The Blue Toon boss said: “The talk of Premiership football being back to finish this season in August, even behind closed doors, is so far from reality as far as I am concerned that I am no longer even considering it as a possibility. There are so many issues to be sorted out and a lot of these issues are controlled by the government and not football authorities.”
“There is no date for the country to come out of lockdown or how we will come out of lockdown. I do not think that we will be coming out anytime soon and even when we do it will be a phased withdrawal based on issues such as ages, occupations and events.”
The 56-year-old is speaking from a position of strength as he has seen the impact of the virus close up as he explained: “I took on a part-time job two months ago delivering medicines to customers of a pharmacy. In those two months what was a pleasant job popping in and seeing people has changed totally.”
McInally added: “A lot of football fans are at an age where they will be the last who can come out of the lockdown for any game. Generations of fans from the one family going to a game will not happen for some time.”
