Two more Kettering players and a staff member go into self-isolation

The Poppies played their Vanarama National League North clash at AFC Telford United last weekend, which they lost 3-1, despite on-loan midfielder Alistair Smith collapsing with a fever on the morning of the game.

The Mansfield Town youngster has been in self-isolation ever since but Cox has now confirmed that Jason Law, also on loan from the Stags, and full-back Matthew Taylor, who is on loan from Harrogate Town, have also now self-isolated as well as first-team coach Ben Marvin.

The National League have now suspended their fixtures until at least April 3 and Cox revealed the rest of the Poppies squad have been instructed to stay away for the next week.

The Poppies manager said: “Mansfield rang me yesterday (Monday) and Alistair had been really poorly for three days but he is coming out of it now.

“But we have also had Matty Taylor and Jason Law who have had to self-isolate as well as Ben Marvin so we have definitely had something in the camp.

“I don’t know whether it is the coronavirus but we have taken the precautionary measures.

“Clubs have locked down now and are keeping people away from each other and to work to the guidelines that everyone has been given.

“As far as we are concerned, I spoke to the chairman (David Mahoney) and we came to the decision that for the next week we would basically do nothing and keep the players away from the club and then we will reassess it after the weekend.”