HOPES of having fans in stadiums in Barrow have been dashed after the Government confirmed it will “pause” plans for a staged return of supporters.

In a fresh blow to professional sport, a rise in Covid-19 cases nationally has scuppered immediate aims to have supporters back in grounds.

It means there is unlikely to be a repeat in the near future of the test games seen in the EFL last weekend.

Barrow AFC’s wait to play in front of supporters at the Progression Solicitors Stadium since their historic promotion back to the Football League will therefore go on. And the news fans will not be back in grounds for a further period has raised fresh concerns over the financial viability of lower-league clubs.

The club has said they are awaiting further guidance on the situation before commenting in any detail. Some of the Bluebirds’ counterparts have described the halt on fan test events as “incredibly bad news”.

Seven test games, involving 1,000 fans, were seen in the League last weekend. It had been hoped that more would take place this weekend, while Barrow’s League Two trip to Cumbrian rivals Carlisle United on Saturday week had also been pencilled in to be played in front of a limited number of supporters.

This news is frustrating for Barrow Raiders as well who were hoping to soon see fans back in the stadium for the new season.

Steve Neale, chairman for Barrow Raiders, who are gunning for promotion next season after signing a host of new players, said: “I am desperately disappointed by this news and I think it is a really bad decision from the Government.

“I think the whole thing has been terribly handled.

“The decision is putting the whole economy in jeopardy. We could disappear next year.

“It is beyond belief considering the death rate is minimal in comparison to other diseases such as cancer.

“It is going to kill sport especially at our level of the game.

“I have negotiated wage bills with my players and now I am not sure how we are going to pay them without fans returning.

“We have made numerous signings in good faith as well.

“I am trying to run a club and I am not getting any help.”

The Raiders were hoping the return of fans could help ease the pressure on the bank balance with no more furlough in sight.

That now appears to be off the agenda after Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove confirmed the scheme to return fans to grounds was being postponed. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Gove said: “It was the case that we were looking at a staged programme of more people returning; it wasn’t going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans.

“We’re looking at how we can, for the moment, pause that programme, but what we do want to do is to make sure that, as and when circumstances allow, [we] get more people back.”

He added, though, that it was also necessary “to recognise that sport is a vital part of the life.”