Passionate Adams urges government to let fans back into stadiums

Cobblers club captain Nicky Adams has launched a passionate plea urging the government to reconsider their position on football supporters not being allowed into stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pilot events took place last month where 1,000 fans attended several EFL games, including Northampton's League One fixture at Shrewsbury Town. That event, along with many others, was deemed a success by the local safety authority but within days the government scrapped their plans to allow a permanent return of supporters.

Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, reiterated the government's position on Monday morning and insisted 'now is not the time' to open stadiums.

"We have worked with clubs to mitigate the risks but there are still risks associated with it," he told the BBC. "I'm working intensively to make sure we're in a position to let fans return when it is safe to do so but, at the moment, given the backdrop of rapidly rising infections, we don't feel it is the appropriate time."

However, speaking after his side's local derby with Peterborough United was played behind closed doors on Saturday, Adams urged the government to reconsider.

"I'll be honest, we need the fans back up and down the country," he said. "You've seen a lot of mad results and scorelines this season but our place would have been packed today.

"That would have given us an extra boost that we needed at times. Sometimes it just makes the other team a bit nervy because we know how good our fans are, but unfortunately we didn't have that.

"It's disappointing. I'm hoping they can do something soon to sort it out all over the country because it's not just us. People's livelihoods being impacted and a lot of businesses in the local area are suffering.

"Football is a big release for people, whether it's taking your kids to games or getting out of the house or whatever, so I think something needs to be done because it's not good enough and I don't understand why they can't be here.

"I saw recently that the Royal Albert Hall, which is indoors, is open again and pubs are also still open so why can't people come to an outdoor stadium? It's really annoying me. Of course people's health comes first but life has to go on as well and it's shown to be safe to watch football - so why can't fans be allowed in? We need them back."

Manager Keith Curle added: "I think a crowd would have lifted us. It was derby day in everything but the noise and the support.

"I wouldn't say the support would change the result but I know Sixfields, with a packed house, would have made it more of a derby game."