ST MIRREN boss Jim Goodwin insists the coronavirus outbreak at Hibs should serve as a reality check to all clubs across Scotland.
The Buddies were caught up in massive Covid controversy last term.
Along with Kilmarnock, the Premiership outfit had to take the SPFL to court to overturn 3-0 forfeitures after Covid tore through the playing squad, meaning they could not fulfil certain fixtures.
Hibs find themselves in a similar situation this year, with their matches against Ross County and Livingston being postponed this week and re-arranged for later dates in the coming months.
And Goodwin is glad to see greater compassion and common sense being shown by those in charge of the game.
Although, the Buddies boss did admit that clubs must be prepared to do whatever is required to fit all of the games in within the fixture scheduling – even if it means playing four times in one week.
He said: “I think Hibs is maybe just a reality check. I can only speak from our point of view. We have not dropped our guard here.
“The players still know what their responsibilities are. They are wearing masks in the corridors, we still have the social distancing in place when they are dining in the canteen or in the dressing room.
“I know we are doing things properly here to the best of our ability and what happened at Hibs in the last week or so was a bit of a reality check to remind society that we are still in the middle of a very serious pandemic here.
“It spreads like wildfire and Hibs have been very unlucky I think.
“It only takes one or two players to get it and before you know it 10 or 12 boys have got it.
“We sympathise with them and hope that everybody is okay and not too seriously affected.
“I’m glad to see there is a bit more compassion going around this time than there was last season.
“The big thing for me last season was that everywhere else in Europe and down the road in England there were games being called off left, right and centre because of covid and they were just rearranged for the next available date.
“I do sympathise with the SPFL and SFA because I know there are not a huge number of games available in the calendar to squeeze games in.
“But clubs need to be prepared to play four games in a week if that’s the necessary requirement.
“We have to make sure the league is completed properly. But we don’t want it to be farcical either.
“Hibs don’t want to be playing a game in the Premiership with 16-year-olds running around being turned over 5-0.
“We do have to be sensible about the situation and I do think common sense is being used at the moment.
“Hibs are being treated fairly and that’s all you can ask for.”
Goodwin wants to see his side get back on track at St Johnstone tomorrow after going three games without a win in the Premiership, with two defeats in that run.
He added: “Look a week is a long-time in football, especially when you’ve got three games.
“Football is a strange game. Prior to Rangers, we were unbeaten in six, we’d won three in a row and everyone was flying.
“Now we’ve lost two of our last three and all of a sudden people are asking questions again.
“That’s the life of being a football manager. You’re two wins away from being a great manager and two away from a crisis.
“In terms of performance levels, although results didn’t go our way I thought we were excellent against Rangers and should have taken something from the game had it not been for giving away a penalty and a really stupid second goal.
“Against Motherwell that’s as one-sided a game I’ve been involved in for a long time. To come away with a point away from home, you’d be happy with that most days.
“The most difficult thing in the game is to put the ball in the back of the net and that’s what we’ve been working hard on this week.”
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