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Steve McKimm says Tonbridge Angels are doing their best as a club to get through the current uncertainty in football.
Angels’ National League South campaign ground to a halt over the festive period with matches postponed due to Covid-19 cases.
They returned to action for the first time since mid-December for Tuesday night’s defeat at league leaders Dartford but the future remains unclear.
Angels are next due in action this Tuesday at home to Chippenham, a game abandoned last month due to fog.
“That was our first game since December 15, Dartford haven’t played that much as well,” said McKimm.
“Have we got a game on Saturday? I don’t know. Can we get one re-arranged? I don’t know. Have we got a game next Tuesday? Yes, at the moment but will that go ahead - no-one knows at the minute.
“We’ve got to take each day as it comes. We’ll go by the league rules and the FA rules which say that we’re elite.
“Whether people believe we are or I believe that is not the question. We’re being told what we have to do. The play-offs were made elite last year which means we can keep playing now.
“We’re trying to keep the players as safe as possible, they’ve got to keep themselves as safe as possible and we’ve got to do the best we can to keep everyone healthy.”
With the country in lockdown once again, McKimm is pleased the elite status for National League South - even though his players are part-time - means he can still be involved in football.
“Some managers I speak to are glad that they aren’t playing but for me, selfishly or not, I’m glad that I am involved in it,” he added.
“As long as I am keeping as safe as possible, and the club are doing as much as they can to keep me as safe as possible, with all the checks that we can do.
“I’m someone that gets on with life. I know people that have had Covid but I always look forward. Yes, there is despair and heartache out there and maybe if it happened to me then I would feel different, but I don’t think I would.
“I’ve gone through certain things in my younger life and I think we’ve just got to get on with it. My life is not going to stop by this pandemic unless it is made to stop by me catching it. I will continue to do what I have to do.
“Some players, as I’ve said to them, if they’re not comfortable in playing then just come and see me. They won’t be released from the club, just stay away and look after your families, and then come back in.
“But that’s their decision, they are grown men. If they feel uncomfortable in playing or going training then they’ve just got to let me know.”
The uncertainty about forthcoming fixtures makes planning a nightmare for managers in National League South with many clubs seeing a break in fixtures due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
McKimm was keen to point out that they are not alone but he is determined to work his way through.
“Everyone is in the same boat,” he stated. “I’m not going to cry wolf and think it is just Tonbridge Angels or me but it’s every team in National League South and the North and the division above.
“We’re classed as elite in non-league and if we had all the testing then we could be.
“We’re doing our best and the club are trying to get some testing for us but it’s a case of fitting that in before games and when you can do it and get the results back.
“We’re doing everything to make everybody at the football club safe.
“In terms of preparing, it’s just up in the air. It’s going to be a funny season but my main aim is still to establish this club at this level in the next two or three years.”
