Town defender preparing for season ending in empty stadiums

Town defender Martin Cranie believes that players will have to prepare mentally for the possibility of finishing the 2019-20 season in front of empty stadiums.

With the EFL taking the decision to postpone the campaign indefinitely recently, until the coronavirus pandemic is under control, thoughts have been turning to just how to end the season.

Matches played behind closed doors is definitely one option that is on the table, as when asked about the prospect of doing so, Cranie said: “It will be strange but you’ve got to take certain precautions to put these games on if they can go ahead.

“That’s another thing that we’ll have to get our head around, going out and there won’t be any fans there.

“It’s all for safety reasons, so if that’s what needs to be done, then so be it.”

Although there has also talk about voiding the season and just starting again in August, Cranie still thinks a conclusion will be reached.

He continued: “I’m sort of getting the vibe that the season is going to finish.

“We’ll have to get our head around that we are going back to finish this season at some point, whether it’s in June or August, that’s the feeling that I’m getting.

“I don’t know how long they can let it go for before they have to make a decision and say that it’s going to impact next season and the summer after.

“I don’t know, but in my head I’ve got it that I’m going to go back at some point and finish the season off.”

If and when it is decided to return to action, with Town’s players, like the rest of the country, on lockdown, then Cranie insists a period of training will be needed before games can start.

He added: ““Everyone’s in the same position, no-one’s got a leg up on anyone.

“I’d imagine there would be a few weeks training before they kick the games off, they can’t just go back in and play a game on the same weekend.

"So as long as everyone stays in decent shape and we get a couple of weeks in when we get back, we’ll be ready to go again.”

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.