Disappointed Blackpool boss Neil Critchley says: Special feeling has been taken away from us

The Seasiders played host to 1,000 fans for the 2-0 win over Swindon Town last Saturday.

The event was a huge success, leading to hopes of further tests with bigger crowds, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that next month’s planned return of fans to sports grounds had been scrapped because of the spike in coronavirus cases.

Reacting to the potentially devastating news, Pool’s head coach Critchley said: “I don’t think I’d be the only person around the country with worrying thoughts at this time.

“To experience what we did last week with our supporters, which was a great feeling for everybody and a special type of atmosphere, and then to suddenly have that taken away again is even harder to take.

“It’s worrying times for the game and sport in general. Hopefully we can find a solution rather quickly because the future of some clubs will no doubt be in doubt. It’s very frustrating.

“How can you go from having 1,000 fans in the ground only last Saturday – which seemed to go with no issues and everyone seemed to enjoy it in a safe environment – and then be told a few days later that it’s not going to happen again? It’s very disappointing to say the least.

“We all wanted to have the experience, so I’d rather have it than not have it, that’s for certain. But you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone, so you shouldn’t take things for granted.

“It was a really special feeling last week. You could see it among the players in the dressing room before the game. You could sense it afterwards.

“You could see how much it meant to the supporters to be back in the ground. It was quite emotional because you felt that real passion, warmth and connection.

“You then wanted that to grow from 1,000 to 2,000. You felt football was coming back but now it feels like it’s been taken away again.”