Game on for Atherstone Town tomorrow but spectre of coronavirus 'disaster' waits in the wings to clobber club finances

Atherstone Town have been given a fixture reprieve from the coronavirus outbreak decimating top-flight football as non-league administrators sanctioned the go-ahead for tomorrow's game – fearing halting the season now would prove "disastrous for many clubs".

The Midland Football League this evening confirmed that all its matches would go ahead this weekend – signalling a green light to Adders' first MFL action for a month.

ATCFC will travel to Kirby Muxloe on Saturday with their fingers crossed – hoping it's the start of a run of five games in 11 days.

But that could all change on Monday as the MFL has agreed to review the future fixture timetable for the rest of the season against the backdrop of a pandemic sweeping the world with 798 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK alone.

And it could mean Adders, along with the rest of football, never complete the 2019/20 season.

The MFL board, meeting this afternoon, admitted it had been caught between a "rock and a hard place" in going against the decision by the Premier and EFL leagues to cancel all games until at least April 3.

Acknowledging its decision will "not be met with universal approval", the MFL said it was siding with the National League and Northern Premier League in allowing all the fixtures to go ahead.

And its comments will have struck a chord with the Sheepy Road club as a succession of storms have rendered the ground waterlogged and unplayable – leaving them facing 16 league games and potentially seven other cup ones in less than eight weeks to the end of the season.

In a statement the MFL said: "Our primary concern, as always, is to protect the financial stability of our clubs. This means playing as many games as we can, so long as clubs wish to do so.

"This is not contrary to the League's and clubs' duty of care considerations to players, officials or supporters but, in a season where clubs have been severely impacted by weather-related postponements, the MFL board believes that pausing the season right now would prove disastrous for many clubs.

"The situation is changing daily, so our approach to Covid-19 must be flexible, recognising the very genuine concerns around the health of players, officials and supporters.

"The league has consistently urged clubs to follow government advice, which is that football matches should go ahead as planned for now."

The league, having carefully weighed up all the options, said it would allow games to be played this weekend, unless a club is directly affected by players, referees or volunteers who are self-isolating or have serious concerns.

It added: "If an infection occurs, or is suspected within a team group, government advice should be followed and the individuals with whom the victim is in direct contact should be advised to self-isolate."

Agreeing to self isolate if you display virus symptoms is in Nub News's guide What you need to know about coronavirus compiled from Government-approved sources which can be found here.

The MFL board went on: "We have requested urgent advice from the FA with regard to the impact of any short or medium-term implications for payments to any contract players.

"As soon as we receive this guidance, it will be issued to all clubs."

The administrators agreed its current stance may need to be reviewed "as events escalate", adding: "Until then it will be business as usual for as long as possible."

Four of the next five fixtures are in the league with a crucial home clash with runaway leaders Leicester Road a week on Saturday. Adders are 28 points behind the title favourties but have a staggering NINE games in hand.

Adders' next fixtures: