Exeter City players and staff undergo testing for coronavirus

First step taken towards Grecians' League Two play-off matches

The players and coaching staff at Exeter City underwent their first coronavirus tests today as the Grecians gear up for  the most unusual of play-off campaigns.

It looks increasingly likely that the remainder of the League Two season will be declared null and void and the final league positions will be decided on an average points-per-game basis, meaning the Grecians will finish the season in fifth place.

With the EFL keen for the play-offs to still take place, that will ensure a semi-final with Colchester United, while Cheltenham Town will meet Northampton Town in the other game, pencilled in for June 20.

It is not yet known if semi-finals will be played as a one-off match, or over two legs on a home and away basis, as per usual.

Many City players have been having one-to-one training at the club’s Cat & Fiddle training ground already with the date for small group training constantly being put back. Now, Taylor says his players are preparing to return to training on June 1, but testing them for Covid-19 starts today.

“We are due to be tested for the first time and obviously, if any positive tests come back from that, then that player or that member of staff can’t access the training ground until a negative test comes back,” Taylor said.

“We know that we are getting tested twice a week, so that is the plan in place at the moment, but I can’t tell you what that looks and feels like until we have actually gone through it.

“At the moment, the club are covering that cost, but we are led to believe that the EFL will cover the costs for testing. So, while there are no decisions still being made yet for certain aspects, we are led to believe that the EFL will cover that testing cost.”

The EFL have confirmed their approach to the testing of players and subsequent reporting, and stressed that it will have no impact on NHS resources.

City’s involvement in the play-offs will certainly give Taylor some minor headaches as he prepares training sessions that are both beneficial and adhere to the advice given in the EFL’s ‘Return to Training Protocols’.

“When we go back to work, we will be expected to work within social distancing, so the buildings themselves will be off limits to the players,” Taylor said.

“There will be a marquee which will have a really good air ventilation system.

“Ideally they will arrive in their car, get out, do a little bit of a warm-up, train, and then get back in their car and go again and not come into contact with anyone directly – but it’s sunny at the moment. We might have a few bad days and then all of a sudden, they might leave a pair of trainers, or need some treatment in the marquee!

“The answer is we don’t quite know what it will look like, under the new guidelines.

“All we can do is make it as safe as we possibly can and stick to all the rules and regulations that are being provided.”