Town’s New Year’s Day game at home to Lincoln City has been postponed at the Imps’ request due to Covid cases at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln’s game at Rotherham last night had been called off and so Saturday’s postponement comes as little surprise.

An EFL statement regarding the game reads: "Lincoln City informed the EFL that it would be unable to fulfil the fixture at Portman Road due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in their squad.

“In light of the increased transmission rate of the Omicron variant, the EFL will now review the circumstances surrounding the postponement.

“In addition it will assist affected clubs throughout this challenging period to help them mitigate against the risk of infection amongst players and staff, while ensuring their obligations to the EFL regulations are maintained. A rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.”

Imps chief executive Liam Scully told his club's official site: “We had hoped, under new guidance, to have players returning to the squad after completing a reduced self-isolation period.

"The new rules would have allowed them to come out of self-isolation with a negative lateral flow test after seven days, unfortunately the tests remain positive which means we cannot fulfil the fixture.

“Those who have tested positive will have completed their self-isolation periods in time for our next fixture at home to Oxford United on January 8th which we expect to go ahead as scheduled.”

Speaking after last night's match, manager Kieran McKenna was preparing as if the Lincoln fixture would take place.

“Yes, 100 per cent,” he said. “Obviously we want to play the game. Lincoln have been in touch and they want to play the game as well. They’re saying that they’re keen to get it on, so we’ll prepare the game, we’ll be ready but at the moment with the way the world is everything’s one day at a time.

“We have to prepare the game as if it’s going to go ahead and hopefully it does. That’s what we’ll be ready for.”

Photo: Steve Waller

ArnieM added 14:36 - Dec 30 Ha ha !! Get that Tractor back in operation you !
1

pennblue added 14:39 - Dec 30 Wonder how many games Lincoln need to postpone before the league needs to be cancelled for the season. Would be handy for them given their position
3

carsey added 14:40 - Dec 30 Frankly I don't believe them, they are running scared and playing the system. There's no way they don't have enough players Covid free out of a squad of 27 and if they don't their protocols must be absolute dog $h!e.
6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:49 - Dec 30 Puh!!! Might just have to watch Leicester smash Naarwich instead. Come on U Foxes!
6

PhilR added 15:16 - Dec 30 Disappointing and not so helpful for momentum, but hopefully a blessing in disguise. A new Manager has to like having so much time to work with the squad without playing matches, can only do us good, and gives more time for our injuries to get sorted too.
4

Bazza8564 added 16:04 - Dec 30 Really disappointing for me, mostly because I could see us winning this and narrowing the gap. The other sides with games in hand now have an opportunity to stretch that out again. There are COVID cases that will clear here of course but it leaves us with 3 weeks until our next home game, and a second home win on the bounce would have done wonders. Ive planned my holiday around getting back for Accrington, will be well pi88ed if they slot this in whilst I am away. GRRRR :)

1

Billericay12 added 16:11 - Dec 30 Disappointing but the more time KM gets with the squad to have an influence the better. Will be almost like having a mini pre season. We also have 2 or 3 affected by Covid and this gives us a chance to get them back, in particular Walton. The mood in the camp should be good right now. This gives a bit more time to build on that. Also the transfer window opens on Saturday so May see a couple of new faces soon !!!

8

Edmundo added 16:25 - Dec 30 If it turns out Lincoln are swinging the lead, we should be given a 3-0. All teams need to take this as seriously as Town is, otherwise why do we bother?
1

Whos_blue added 16:46 - Dec 30 Is it wrong to be a teensy weensy bit glad about this? I was only 50/50 on being able to attend. Extraordinarily selfish I know, but......
2

MickMillsTash added 16:51 - Dec 30 Do independent Covid testers visit the clubs to watch the infected take the test ? I cannot complain - When My best players at rubbish U12 level were not available on a Sunday I would re-arrange the game to a Saturday when they could play When Alan Judge was on International Duty Ipswich asked to Re-arrange a game, Seems Crazy now.
1

istanblue added 17:28 - Dec 30 Gillingham and Lincoln who are in a poor run of form: game off Wycombe who are in a good run of form: game on Sus.
4

Runner added 18:23 - Dec 30 Could easily be played Tuesday 11th January.
2

terryf added 18:25 - Dec 30 So suddenly everyones a health expert. We simply don't know whether these are genuine covid cases or not. With the way this variant is spreading it's more than likely most Clubs are struggling. Surely the EFL ask for some form of proof of positive readings? Apart from more time on the training ground for McKenna at least we'll have Walton back in goal. Hladky must give the defenders the screaming ad dabs!! Will be interesting to see who they bring in January. Another left back, centre half and midfielder must be top of the list.

0

Monkey_Blue added 18:36 - Dec 30 ItfcIm…. Bolton only had kids to play us because of financial issues not a pandemic so zero relevance to your question re: COVID I get people think Lincoln and other clubs might be pushing the rules to get games called off and perhaps some are…. Given I'm not in possession of evidence I can't say that and I'd remind some of you that simply claiming they can't isn't enough. They'd have to provide evidence.

1

CornardBlue added 19:05 - Dec 30 When these game are played in the New Year, the club who called it of should only be able to play players who are available when the original game is called off. Not any new signings they make in the January transfer window.
2

DerryfromBury added 19:22 - Dec 30 Any club using the CV19 as an excuse/reason to request postponement of any fixture should first be made to provide evidence to the EFL of all the affected individual player PCR test results (not LFT, actual PCR). If, and only if, they are then unable to field a full team from the total squad (first team, U23's and academy) should consent be given to postpone and reschedule.

6

ldnj added 20:57 - Dec 30 Wimbledon made some good points about trying to manage the health situation and the potential disadvantage to them, having done well with limited resources in an geography of higher infection prevalence. It would be interesting to know how much their approach extends to strongly encouraging players are vaccinated and whether other teams follow similar approaches. Also an interesting theoretical point that squads could now differ due to the transfer window, though that clearly potentially happens as soon as the window opens.

-1

Lightningboy added 21:04 - Dec 30 This whole situation is getting beyond ridiculous. #Lemsip
4

Saxonblue74 added 22:22 - Dec 30 Leicester v Norwich off now. Leicester happy as Norwich have only conceded 8 in the last 2 games, they don't want to play them whilst in form!
4

ArnieM added 10:04 - Dec 31 But Leicester have a fair few key players out injured , so guess they'll be happy to have a rest too over the traditional busy Christmas period ( which most managers are complaining about it seems)!
0

Michael101 added 10:12 - Dec 31 Runner, Lincoln have a game on 11than so we can't play them then,
1

shakytown added 10:46 - Dec 31 How long will it be until the season is cancelled???? If teams call off 5 or 6 more games then the backlog will be impossible to clear fairly as some clubs will have just too many games in a short period.
2

runningout added 14:13 - Dec 31 Is it me or does it seem a lot of professional footballers contacting covid. Would have thought social bubbles, vaccinations etc, would be just as prevalent as they are with most of us
0

Daniel72 added 17:45 - Dec 31 How many worldwide have died of Omocron (anagram of "moronic")? Under ten, it seems, according to Dr, Robert Malone... and they were probably ill with something else.. just an excuse to keep pushing the crisis narrative.. and it makes no difference if you're jabbed.. so why does football have to stop for a runny nose? From the same people who brought you "two weeks to flatten the curve"..

3

Daniel72 added 17:47 - Dec 31 *omicron...
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