Kent’s non-league clubs are counting the cost of the increasing Coronavirus pandemic as the Isthmian League have announced that all games this weekend and next midweek have been postponed.

In a statement – published on the League website on Friday afternoon – League Chairman Nick Robinson said, “The safety and wellbeing of all those associated with the League – our players, volunteers, Club Officials, Match Officials and supporters – is our number one priority, and we are closely monitoring the situation and carefully following advice from Public Health England.”

“The Board has decided that as an immediate step matches scheduled for tomorrow and next midweek will be postponed and we will review the situation daily as to when fixtures can recommence.”

“We understand the enormous financial impact this will have on many Clubs, but the Board feels that it is better to err on the side of caution at this time. We hope that by taking this step we can delay the spread of the virus and we earnestly hope that with the right approach there will be as few persons as possible suffering either directly or indirectly…”

Sevenoaks Town’s home game with Guernsey had already been called off on Thursday after the Green Lions have been advised by their State Government that islanders should avoid travelling into and out of the Bailiwick for non-essential reasons with immediate effect. 

Boss Micky Collins was fully of understanding at the decision – he told KSN, “I fully understand Guernsey’s decision,” he said.

“If they’ve got a clean island – and they probably have – then they should keep the borders shut especially for the sake of football!”

“They’ve done the right thing – it’s a great decision and if I lived on Guernsey – or Jersey – I would be impressed with the decision they’ve made. That said, for me, I’m not sure about the League’s decision.” 

“If the EFL have called the games off and the Premier League have called the games off, surely it should go right across the game if that’s the advice!”

“Our League have said they’re going to protect everyone and not have football, but the National League is still going ahead – I’ll probably go and watch Dartford one of my old clubs.”

“At the end of the day, I understand that theres a lot of scare mongering about what’s going on and it’s a “new” thing to us all, but at the end of the day, unless they shut schools and colleges and the transport system and everything’s grinding to a halt and you have got to isolate for the incubation period, then life must go on – it’s your choice as a person to look at your own circumstances and say “I’m X years old, I’ve got health issues so I’m not going to watch that game of football on that weekend.”

“I just think that we must crack on – I totally support Guernsey and their decision even if we do miss a game – it’s the first time that a “government” has ever called off a game I’ve been involved in!”

Another Isthmian League side with a “day off” are Play Off chasing Herne Bay who were due to travel to Homelands to face Ashford United. 

Their boss Ben Smith was left confused but had no doubt where the responsibility for the confusion lay as he admitted, “Different leagues at similar levels all have a different stance on the position which is very confusing to everyone”

“I think it’s a cop out from the FA if I’m honest – I think that they needed to come out and say that there’s either a blanket no-one plays or you’re free to play as long as there’s no clubs with symptoms of Coronavirus.”

“I believe it should have been a “one size fits all” approach – it shouldn’t have been put on the people who run the Isthmian League – or SCEFL – these people don’t have access to the sort of medical information that the top brass at the FA would have!”

“I think it’s a bit of a cop out to put these people in quite uncompromising positions because it’s a no win.”

“They call off the football and they get “battered” as other Leagues are playing so they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t!”

“It does hurt the clubs financially when the League calls off the games, but we don’t know how big or bad the pandemic is!”

“I’m still hoping that common sense will prevail eventually as it’s all well and good saying this is what we’re going to do as a country or a Football Association – it needs to be backed up with the evidence and the evidence explained to people why we’re doing certain strategies, but I’m by no means a health specialist.”

“Let’s face it, no-one’s been in this position before and that’s for me hard to put the decision in the League’s hands, puts the decision in the hands of people who haven’t been in this position before.”