"I think football should continue," says Hereford FC manager

The Bulls are currently in isolation after midfielder Giles Coke tested positive for the virus earlier this week.

This meant their game today against Brackley Town and Tuesday night's against AFC Telford United has been postponed.

The Bulls boss says that football in the National League North should continue without a break in play.

"The Government have said to us that this (Covid) isn't going anywhere, it's going to be like the flu and always around," said Gowling.

"So what does a two-week break do? You have a two week break, it all dies down everyone goes back out and everyone gets it again.

"I'm not quite sure what a two-week break would do.

"I know the vaccinations are rolling out now which is a plus.

"We've got to be fortunate in the industry that we're in that we still get to work and entertain people.

"We've got to be thankful for that. We've got to be thankful that we're elite sports.

"I know earlier on in the year we were talking about why are we elite sport when we can't have fans.

"Everyone was saying lets have that tag wiped off. Actually it's probably worked out in our favour now.

"I think football should continue. Especially with people's mental health it's good that they can tune into something with our stream and it gives people that release rather than sitting at home watching the same old boring television.

"It gives them an outlet, they get to see their club, their favourite players and they get to be entertained.

"We should continue that and I think that's important.

"I know the EFL have now come in with tests on a more regular basis which is good so it keeps the lads from harm.

"I don't know if that's going to trickle down to us or not but clubs financially can't afford to do it.

"Unfortunately we don't have the PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) at our level, the union side of things to pay for all the lads to get tested.

"I'm guessing the league will be looking at that in the near future."

Giles Coke

"I've spoken to him today (Thursday) and he's doing really well and will be back soon," added Gowling

"It's just him at the moment, nobody else has got any symptoms but we have to take precautions with all the lads and make sure they are staying healthy.

Zoom training

"We were on a Zoom meeting today," added Gowling.

"As we can't train we've got to social distance so we've had a nice fitness session on Zoom.

"That was a bit of fun watching the lads dying in their front rooms.

"You've got to diversify and adapt. We've got a great bunch of lads, want to keep ourselves ticking over and it's important to keep our focus.

"It can be easy to have 10 days off and not do a lot. We will train as we normally would, but it will be on Zoom rather than at the training ground.

"We'll do a session on Saturday which should be interesting to make sure they stay fit and healthy.

"It's good that we can stay together and be a group too."

Chance to recover

"When you talk about the new strain and you're 70 per cent more likely to get it,

"Everyone is going to get it at some point I would imagine, it's our turn this time.

"It's frustrating as we've had a good run but you've got to take the positives from these things and we've had a lot of games in a short space of time.

"We've had a few niggles so it gives the lads time to rest up and recuperate and get back."