Bantams boss Adams: I don't think we'll get away with virus

A number of games have already been called off for this weekend because of the rise in cases including three in League Two at Swindon, Crawley and Northampton.

As the Bantams head for Carlisle on Saturday, there is a growing calls within the Premier League to put the season on a break until the worst of the Omicron variant has passed.

The EFL this afternoon announced new guidelines for clubs, including daily testing subject to lateral-flow supply.

All players and staff are also being encouraged to get double jabbed and boosted.

City have had strict protocols in place during the height of the pandemic and went the whole of last year without reporting a single positive case.

Given the rate at which the virus is reported to be spreading again, Adams does not expect them to be so fortunate this time.

He said: “I don’t think we’re going to get away with it this year as a football club.

“You can see the variant is spreading quickly and I think it would be a miracle if nobody was to pick it up.

“It doesn’t matter about what protocols you do put in place around here, then an individual comes into contact with family members or goes into public when they go home.

“I think it will be very difficult to get away with it.”

The club doctor met the players this morning but City cannot force anyone to be jabbed who has chosen not to.

“We can’t do anything about that as a club,” added Adams. “It’s up to the individual if they feel it’s right for them to get vaccinated or not.

“The doctor has explained the benefits for being vaccinated and everyone has had that talk with him.

“That’s all you can do. We’re all adults and are all allowed to make our own decisions.

“That’s (the same) all over the world. If you decide to wear a mask or not or get the vaccine or not, it’s an individual’s choice.

“But we obviously know in some circumstances if you don’t have the vaccine, it limits you to getting access unless you’ve had a negative test.”

While some managers have spoken about pausing the schedule, there could also be the possibility of a return to playing behind closed doors as in some other European countries. The latest government advice is trying to discourage fans from going to games.

Asked if he feared another crowd lock-out, Adams said: “I wouldn’t like to say at this moment. I don’t know how the government and the EFL are deciding things.

“We obviously look at other countries and some of the protocols they have put in place.

“Nobody would want that to come to the fore. But we as a football club would support whatever way the scientists thought was the best going forward.

“We all know what happened two seasons ago and last year we got through a whole season without supporters in the venues.

“It’s hard to tell which way it’s going to go. Will testing come back and be at the rate it was at previous times to allow us to play?

“We’ve got to wait until the authorities decide. Me as a football manager and the club will not have any say in it and we have to go with the guidelines.

“Would everyone think we would still be in the situation we are today? The probable answer is no.

“We might have thought we’d dealt with it, but we obviously haven’t.”