Hatters boss is '100 per cent' confident the 2020-21 season will finish despite coronavirus pandemic

Luton manager Nathan Jones remains ‘100 per cent’ confident that the 2020-21 football season will finish despite the coronavirus pandemic.

In recent weeks, a host of matches up and down the country have been postponed due to outbreaks of the virus within squads, especially after a new more transmissible variant was discovered last month, while this weekend’s FA Cup games will see Derby County use their U23s, Aston Villa could also field a youth side against Liverpool, with the Shrewsbury v Southampton tie already off.

Town themselves have been forced to call off one game, their fixture against QPR last weekend not going ahead due to a number of positives tests returned by members of the first team.

However, with the Championship campaign almost at its midway point, Jones wasn’t worried about the ability to reach a natural conclusion, as he said: “100 per cent, I just think you have to be diligent.

“One, you have to be diligent with your protocols within the club, enforce those and make sure they’re adhered to.

“Then, your players and humans have to be sensible outside of the football club and all across the country.

“If you do that then that’s the only way to beat it and get back to normal life.

“If people flaunt rules, in and out of the football club, in society, then that only has a knock-on effect.

“Look, we’ve had almost a year of being under real restrictions. If that isn’t a wake-up call for humanity, then nothing is.

“All I can do is advise our players to stick to those things (protocols).

“We do lots of work with that in terms of every time you go to the petrol station, fill it up, use gloves, limiting the amount of times you go there, order online, all these things can help and that’s all you can do.

“But we’re very confident that if players do stick to that, and not just our players but all across the country, then we will be able to quite comfortably finish the season, because that’s the goal.

“The big thing about it is, in March when it was lockdown, and when we came back, back in May, we were going into the unknown.

“We had no idea how it was spread and the knock-on effects, but we managed to finish the season.

“Yes, there is a more transmissible variant, but we have information now, we have protocols and a way of doing stuff, so I can’t see any reason why we’d need a circuit-breaker if we just adhere to things.”

Having had prior experience of playing through the pandemic last season is another reason why Jones believes the clubs are well prepared to continue the campaign, especially as they will now be subject to two tests a week, after the FA and EFL introduced new guidelines last week.

He continued: “I do think think the FA and the EFL have acted quickly to get tested twice a week now.

“When they looked it down initially there was none of the protocol in place, now football has these protocols in place and some life has to continue, you can't just shut everything down and blanket it.

“If something is relatively safe to do so then these are probably the safest environments and as long as players adhere to all the government guidelines outside of the club, then we should be able to enjoy the games as safely as possible.

“With the new variant it will spread, people will pick up positive tests that's just the nature of it.

"But in terms of everything, herd immunity and all that, then as long as everything’s done safely and we’re tested regularly and those who are in isolation adhere to that then there's no reason whatever why all the games can’t be played.”

Finally, when asked if he thought the EFL and FA should have acted earlier to bring in testing they are funding themselves, rather than rely on individual clubs to provide it, Jones added: “I’m not going to criticise anyone for the timing.

“Everything has to move fluidly at the minute because we’re being dictated by a virus that no-one fully understands yet, and with the new variant, everyone has to move fluently.

“With everything, we’re very grateful to the PFA who have done that and stepped in because it does take a real strain away from the clubs.

“What this will ensure, or should ensure, is that we can stay safe, monitor and continue to play the games programme, which is paramount, and that’s what we’ve all got to focus on now.

“So, rather than point fingers, we’re very grateful for them doing it because now, hopefully, we can get a real good, safe and entertaining end to the season.

“Then, by the time, another season starts, we should see football back to a semblance of normality.”