Megson Not Worried About Swine Flu Outbreak at the Club
Former Bolton manager Sam Alladyce revealed that some of Blackburn’s players played against Chelsea despite showing some symptoms of Swine Flu. Big Sam is concerned about the virus but The Wanderers’ current manager is not perturbed by an apparent outbreak at The Reebok Stadium.
In a statement on the official Rovers website Big Sam said;
“Obviously, we’ve had two players who have been particularly poorly with it, and we’ve had a few more that have had something which looked like the symptoms, but they still managed to travel with us and get through the game at Chelsea.
“We are now hoping we don’t see too many more this week, although we have seen one more today.”
Allardyce explained that none of the players asked to be ‘deselected’ from the squad and headed to Stamford Bridge where they lost 5-0 to Chelsea.
“They had their paracetemol and went out there, and perhaps one or two of them faded away, and you can understand that.”
Meanwhile the managers are divided in their opinion about the risk of infection while playing football.
Gary Megson said;
The medical people say it is very difficult, if not impossible, to contract it in that way.
“You are going to get one or two with swine flu and I think on the playing staff I think we have had five, four players and one member of staff.
“They are all okay at the moment, but it wouldn’t be right to start giving you names.”
While Alladyce remained adamant that there is a risk.
“When you look at the medical side of it, it is one of the most infectious viruses we have had.”
Megson’s comments do not clarify if anyone at the club currently has the virus. He uses past tense when referring to the known cases but his final statement suggests concern over possible ongoing cases of swine flu.
According to The Health Protection Agency the footballers’ habit of spitting “could increase the risk of passing on infections”.
Megson went on to explain that some precautions were in place at The Reebok Stadium to reduce the changes of infection amongst staff.
“When it was first mooted that there was going to be a problem the doctor that we have got and the medical people we have made sure every door you go through we have things where you have to wash your hands.
“We have tried to take on every precaution we can but like I said it is impossible for it not to affect somebody in your organisation but there is nothing you can do.”
Bolton travel to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the Carling Cup tomorrow, let’s hope that a Bolton infamous win makes the headlines and not further worry about the spread of swine flu through the Premier League’s clubs.
BBC Sport — Spitting on pitch ‘is flu risk’
Official BRFC Website — Rovers hit by virus
