Carlisle United boss Chris Beech insists he is “not bothered” whether the season gets extended.

The Blues are facing more fixture congestion than any other side in League Two after a string of postponements.

The EFL still want the campaign to finish on time, leaving United with the challenge of fitting in 23 games in 85 days or less.

The head coach has admitted his frustration at the Blues’ series of postponements but does not expect any sympathy for what his side are facing.

“Sympathy? We came out of 10 days of coronavirus shutdown and got asked on the first day of work to go to Newport to play against them,” he said.

“We were expected to sit on a bus and travel all the way down there. That’s not sympathetic whatsoever coming out of a massive infection in terms of the four walls of your company.

“Some of the lads – Aaron Hayden and a couple of others – their first day at work would have actually been whether I played them or not at that game.

“There’s definitely no sympathy within that.

“And for us, we’re in this unique position of not being able to train outside within all of that. From there we’re pushed into a two-game hit against Exeter and Forest Green, so I was so proud of the players to get a victory in one of those two games.

“I think it’s very relevant that Joe Riley is really in full-flow but we can only train on a 40x30m currently inside the Neil Centre.

“To judge a ball above hip height, be it for heading, getting distances in clearances or for attacking set plays, it’s very hard for the players to do.

“When we get the chance to play football we just get on with it. I don’t want any sympathy for the players, because it is what it is and I just can’t wait until we play a game again.”

Asked for his view on whether the EFL should consider taking the season beyond its May 8 end date, Beech replied: “I’m not bothered. If they do they do, if they don’t they don’t, and when we get to play we’ll play.”

Beech says his players must also deal with the frustration of having their campaign regularly disrupted.

They are due to host Crawley on Saturday but that game will also be at the mercy of the weather, with sub-zero temperatures set to remain in Carlisle this week.

Beech said United have already overcome challenges this season and will retain that mindset.

“There’s nothing harder than coming out of the other side of a situation like I’ve just explained that we’ve faced to get ready to go and play Newport away,” he added.

“Having been in that position, anything that comes our way after that lot I would say will be a lot easier.

“If you talk to any of our players you’ll see they’re raring to go and they’re just really, really frustrated.

“On any long journey you’re going to get discrepancies and at Carlisle United historically you get more than others, because of weather, conditions and, in the past, a lot of negativity around the club.

“We’ve dispersed that, we’ve got ourselves in a good position and we can only fight when we get the opportunity.”