Chesterfield players told to stay away from club amid coronavirus outbreak

The Spireites drew 1-1 at Dover Athletic on Saturday but the club slammed the National League’s decision to allow the weekend’s games to go ahead given all Premier League and EFL games have been postponed until at least April 3.

Blues boss John Pemberton called the decision “crazy” and “stupid” and said it lacked common sense.

He claimed they sought advice from the National League due to defender Haydn Hollis struggling with illness but heard nothing from them.

Pemberton also revealed they only found out the game was definitely on at 10.30am on Saturday.

The National League board is meeting on Monday and it is expected they will follow the Premier League and EFL in postponing matches.

Chesterfield are due to play fellow strugglers Maidenhead United at the Proact next Saturday but that now seems unlikely.

Speaking after the game on Saturday, Pemberton said: “We will be sensible and do what everyone else is doing and keep them away and just probably self-isolate ourselves and see what the next step is for us.

“Will we play the next game? I do not know. We will be doing our best to keep everybody safe and healthy.”

He added: “It is like something out of a stupid film isn’t it? You just can’t quite believe it. But we can’t take it lightly. We have got no idea what the effects are going to be and how it is going to go and how long it is going to take so we have just got to be sensible. I don't think the National League has been sensible.”

Tom Denton gave Chesterfield the lead at the Crabble Stadium with his eighth goal of the season when he converted an 80th minute penalty.

But Town were pegged back in the 89th minute when substitute Nassim L'Ghoul took advantage of some slack defending.

The draw moves the Spireites up one place to 19th and they remain two points clear of the bottom four.