Chris Beech says he and his Carlisle United players will remain focused on the job in hand despite admitting there are “tough times” ahead for the football industry.

The Blues are preparing for their third match of the league season at Scunthorpe this weekend at a time the game is reeling from the news that fans will not be allowed back in grounds for the foreseeable.

The game’s authorities and the Government remain in discussions about possible rescue plans, with many clubs fearing for their future without matchday income for months to come.

United head coach Beech admits the latest blow for football amid a rise in Covid-19 cases is “very concerning” for the game until a way forward becomes clearer, but it is also essential that he maintains a clear focus on matters on the pitch.

“We have to concentrate on that and be thankful,” he said. “I have spoken about this great game of ours that we’ve got to try and protect, and within that we have a responsibility as players, people, coaches to try and do the right things at the right time and not ignore them, and try our best to make sure we’re good to go. That’s all we can do.”

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston told the House of Commons that the Government was working “at pace” to “understand” the issues faced by sports who will be hit hard by the situation.

He also, though, suggested that the top tiers of professional sport must look at ways “in which it can support itself” – a comment which could increase calls for the Premier League to come to the aid of the EFL.

The EFL chairman Rick Parry this week said the league was disappointed at the shelving of pilot games for fans, such as the fixture at Brunton Park last Saturday when 1,000 supporters attended Carlisle’s 2-0 win against Southend. Parry said there is a need for “urgent financial assistance” and that he was “optimistic” a solution would be found, but warned of a “challenging outlook” for clubs if it was not.

Beech said Carlisle’s test event last weekend deserved praise for the way it was run. He added: “I think it was a great success here, and everybody should take great credit, but we can’t control the virus…we just have to do our bit within it.

“We did it very well as a football club, on and off the pitch.

“In terms of the future, it’s going be tough, because I think a lot of chairman and clubs were organised to have some sort of revenue and income from that point.

“It will affect football. I know we’ve done really, really, really well in terms of trying to look at the club from a financial point of view in this strange time, but other clubs will be in different positions.

“I just hope the footballing world can somehow come through it. It will be a little bit difficult, so we just have to wait and see.

Beech also referred to the effect of the coronavirus in other areas of life and how that also impacts the game.

He said: “It’s very concerning. But it is for everybody in all working life; at this level we do all have mortgages and bills.

“Of course, what people forget is the people that own football clubs have businesses that have been punched hard. It is a great concern.

“We can only control what we do here to the best of our abilities to keep people safe, train hard and get ready to play.

“We know within all of this, football’s very important for how we feel - optimism, what we look towards.

“If you spoke to any of the thousand spectators from last Saturday, they will have been absolutely buzzing to put that new kit on, irrelevant of the game itself. Thankfully we managed to play well and give them a 2-0 win. But that’s what this game’s all about. It’s strange times.”

News and Star: EFL chairman Rick Parry, pictured with Carlisle co-owner John Nixon, has spelled out the "urgent" need for help for clubs EFL chairman Rick Parry, pictured with Carlisle co-owner John Nixon, has spelled out the "urgent" need for help for clubs (Image: Stuart Walker)

Beech also expected further guidance to come regarding the testing of players.

There is currently no requirement in the EFL for regular Covid-19 testing, a decision made after 99 per cent of all test conducted during the regular testing programme came back negative, but the rise in infections across the country has led to further discussions by the authorities.

Some Premier League clubs themselves played for EFL opponents to be tested ahead of League Cup games this week.

Beech said: “I think it’s going into a grey area now. Now we’ve been up and running, we went through all the phases which were very stringent – training in groups of five, at different times, the players weren’t allowed to shower [here], they had to come and leave the training ground, then had testing so we could go into contact [training], and again to play in the Football League.

“I think in planning it was probably, ‘Great, we’re up and running now’, but with the virus raising its head again, it’s put that into some sort of shadow.

“I would imagine the governing bodies will be in deep conversation to see what is best practice.

“The protocols for going to away grounds and coming here are [still] very stringent. Even last Saturday, my starting XI changed in the changing rooms and my subs in the players’ lounge. It’s not normal but it’s what we have to do.

“As things move on, sometimes you need a bit of guidance from the governing bodies. It’s probably getting to that point because of what the Government has done, because the virus has been raising its head.”