Football needs a rethink over Covid-19, says Kettering Town boss Cox

Kettering Town boss Paul Cox believes a “rethink” is needed after ‘elite’ sport was given the go ahead to continue despite the country being plunged into a new national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a tightening of restrictions on Monday after a surge in new infections of Covid-19 but sport at the ‘elite’ level will be allowed to continue despite the message to the country being to ‘stay at home’.

In football, the ‘elite’ tag stretches from the Premier League down to the Vanarama National League North and South divisions meaning that the Poppies can continue to play during the lockdown.

Cox saw his side draw 2-2 at Boston United on Tuesday night and they are now gearing up for a home clash with Gateshead on Saturday.

But the Poppies boss reiterated once again that “there are bigger things than football” and he insists he would prefer to do nothing for the next few weeks if it meant that the end of the pandemic could be in sight.

“I think in the way this Covid is hitting us at the moment I find it really strange that kids can’t go to school yet we can play football,” the Kettering manager said.

“I love this business, I absolutely adore it and I love going to places on a Tuesday night in the freezing cold but I have always maintained there are bigger things than football.

“The health of people and kids’ education are both bigger than football.

“In my head do I think there needs to be a rethink? Absolutely.

“I would love to be locked down for a month or six or eight weeks and do absolutely nothing and have this thing cleared up rather than go through another year of people passing away, people becoming ill and kids not being educated.

“I just think it needs looking at and people really need to take stock of it and take it seriously.”