Brentford manager Thomas Frank has called for this weekend's round of Premier League games to be postponed after admitting that Covid-19 cases are 'through the roof' in the division ahead of Saturday's game against Southampton.
The Bees had their match against Manchester United postponed after the Red Devils had a Covid-19 outbreak at the club while Southampton drew 2-2 away at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Brentford are currently 12th in the league, while Southampton are without a win in six games and now sit 15th in the league.
Frank admitted that Covid-19 was widespread in the league, with the Bees registering 13 cases amongst players and staff, and to make matters worse, only 68% of Premier League players said that they had been vaccinated as of October 2021.
"The Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs," said Frank.
💬 Interrupted preparations
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 16, 2021
"After the game was postponed, we were talking about the best possible way to prepare for Saturday. To get people ready we should do a light session and get everyone in Wednesday but in terms of breaking the chain we didn’t"#BrentfordFC #SOUBRE pic.twitter.com/fLnoXsAgwJ
"Everyone is dealing with it, and everyone has a problem at this moment in time.
"To postpone this round [of Premier League games] and the Carabao Cup would give everyone a week at least to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is fine and we break the chain at every club.
"We respect fully that we want to play. Of course, we want to carry on, but this way, we can have Boxing Day going no problem, 100% sure of that.
"We think that would be very sensible to do that.
💬 The latest Covid situation
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 16, 2021
"Today we train a bit later but it is in and out. They get their kit in the car and change there. They have minimal medical prep, go out on the pitch, get a football, go home, done; that is not performance-first preparation"#BrentfordFC #SOUBRE pic.twitter.com/0zC3edjS6j
"The club have been in regular contact with the Premier League over the last couple of days."
Leicester's game with Tottenham became the latest to be postponed on Thursday, a day after the UK reported its highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began with 78,610.
Southampton's 2-2 draw with Palace came after goals from Chelsea loanee Armando Broja and England international James Ward-Prowse.
Frank emphasised the importance of choice when it came to taking the vaccine but insisted it would be better for everyone if every club was as transparent as possible.
"Vaccine is a free choice, we are living in a free world. I will definitely recommend it, and we have a lot of players double vaccinated," he added.
"We arranged for the booster in the training ground on Wednesday. My biggest recommendation would be that they should be vaccinated.
"I think it's very simple. Every manager or head coach wants badly to win.
"If it's not transparent from the one who is making the rules, then you do what you can to add it to your advantage.
"Some clubs are more open and transparent than others. The key message is it should be very transparent. It's 'X' players and 'X' staff."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here