Walsall chairman Leigh Pomlett: Future disruption to League Two a possibility

As the country enters a new lockdown, several fixtures across the Premier League and EFL have been postponed due to Covid-19 outbreaks at certain clubs.

Walsall have only had one game rescheduled this season, when Leyton Orient suffered an outbreak, but with coronavirus rates rising Pomlett is anticipating future disruption.

"We've been testing the players and all of us have been tested for Covid," he said via the club's channels.

"It must be a possibility that they'll be disruption to the season going forward.

"In League One at the weekend seven matches were postponed because of Covid and one in League Two.

"We'll minimise that disruption, but it could happen.

"At the moment the good news is we'll carry on playing football, albeit without crowds, for the foreseeable future."

Meanwhile, Pomlett has criticised the multi-million pound Premier League rescue package for it's failure to help clubs in the long-term.

Walsall first received a £250,000 grant before receiving an unspecified extra sum calculated for each individual club based on their lost gate receipts.

"In terms of the rescue package, that has now been concluded," he said.

"From a Walsall perspective it's many things but a rescue package it most certainly is not.

"It helps and eases the financial problems of our football club but by no means can it be described as a rescue package.

"I wouldn't want anybody out there to think that I am pleased with the outcome of the discussions between the EFL and the football clubs, because I'm not.

"It is helpful but it doesn't solve long-term problems. We have to find other financial ways of helping our club get through this crisis."

Midfielders Liam Kinsella and Alfie Bates have both signed new deals until 2023 and Pomlett is pleased with their show of loyalty.

"I'm very pleased to say Liam Kinsella and Alfie Bates have signed long-term contracts with us in the last few days," he said.

"Thank you to them for showing faith in our football club. Both of those midfield players are extremely important to use going forward.

"I was very pleased that they committed their futures to us and I'm very pleased to reciprocate it."