'People's health comes first' - Keith Curle and James Whiting react to 'unprecedented' situation as EFL postpone all fixtures

Cobblers were scheduled to head to Forest Green Rovers for a Sky Bet League Two fixture this weekend but that is no longer going ahead.

Fixtures against Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Oldham Athletic have also been suspended with the season currently set to resume on April 4, though that is subject to change.

An EFL read: "This action, which will be kept under constant review, has been taken due to the increasing numbers of clubs taking steps to isolate their players and staff because of the COVID-19 virus.

"The postponements include all matches in the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as all Academy and youth team fixtures."

The coronavirus has hit clubs all across Europe with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi among those to have tested positive for the virus.

With that in mind, and given the seriousness of COVID-19, Cobblers CEO Whiting felt it was the right call to temporally suspend the season.

"People's health is the most important thing and I think this is the most sensible approach at the moment," he said. "We felt we might be moving this way in the last 24 or 48 hours.

"We had the announcement on Thursday night that games would go ahead as normal and we were fully prepared for that but things have changed quite quickly this morning.

"With all the facts that are out there, it does feel like this is the sensible decision and I believe the EFL have made the right call because people's health is of paramount importance. It's the right step at this point in time."

Manager Keith Curle felt the same way, adding: "It's unprecedented but we have to follow the guidelines set by the governing body because they are set for the right reasons.

"There is genuine concerns whereby we need to abide by those guidelines that have been put in place. It's not easy to shut the building down and shut the operation down but that's what we've been told by the people above.

"People's health comes first and if there are any precautions to be taken, we need to take those precautions and that's not just as an organisation because we've got responsibilities to the people that come into our environment.

"We want to make it safe and enjoyable environment."