Chesterfield manager James Rowe on mandatory coronavirus testing for National League clubs

The National League is set to introduce mandatory testing for all 66 clubs in the three divisions this week.

It will come at no cost to clubs.

Chesterfield have had to isolate three times since December after positive tests in the camp.

Previously when one player has tested positive the rest of the squad has had to isolate but it is hoped that this will no longer be the case.

“The testing will minimise another isolation for us,” Rowe said.

“The reason for that is there is testing two times a week and they will be tested outside the club before coming into training so if they have got any symptoms they won’t travel in.

“Symptomatic or not symptomatic they get tested before they come into the building before training and obviously if they fail that test they will go for a separate PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test and if that is positive then they have stayed away and they have not mixed with the group so then you would not go into isolation so actually it captures it better if there is any problems.

“The reason it has not been in place is because clubs have not been able to afford the testing so the National League providing that now will provide a bit more stability and will hopefully minimise isolation.”

The fixtures are piling up for Chesterfield with only five spare Tuesday nights until the end of May.

And Rowe says he does not expect the season to be extended and that matches might even have to be played on Thursdays.

“Knowing the National League and knowing past years, for various reasons clubs have played Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, that has happened,” he explained. “I think that happened to Gateshead in my second play-off year at Aldershot.

"Hopefully we are not going to be in that position at the end of the season ourselves but knowing the National League instead of extending it, especially with the Euros and the play-offs taking place at Wembley, I can’t see them extending it and I think that it will be a case of Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays if we don’t get these fixtures in.”