Seven members of staff at St Mirren have tested positive for coronavirus nine days before the Scottish Premiership is due to start. The club confirmed several members of their coaching staff had tested positive but no players.
The Paisley club’s pre-season friendly against St Johnstone on Saturday has been postponed as a result. Hamilton, who St Mirren played in a friendly last weekend, has confirmed all players and backroom staff were tested following the game with all results returning negative. A St Mirren spokesman said: “Thus far no members of the playing staff have tested positive and we are taking all possible precautions to ensure there is no further spread. We will provide an update in due course.”
The Scottish football authorities announced that clubs would have to revert to twice-weekly testing after the requirements were relaxed earlier this month. A statement from the league and governing body read: “We immediately contacted the Scottish government and the office of the clinical director for Scotland to relay this information.” As a consequence, St Mirren’s planned friendly match at home to St Johnstone, scheduled to take place on Saturday 25 July, has been cancelled. In light of this and other recent events, the JRG hereby notifies Scottish Premiership clubs that with immediate effect they must revert to twice-weekly testing protocols until further notice.”
Scottish football’s governing body has already written to clubs reminding them of the importance of sticking to the rules ahead of the new season kicking off on 1 August.
