Paul Tisdale has revealed Bristol Rovers are considering scrapping coach travel to games to curb the spread of COVID-19.
EFL clubs have been reminded of their responsibilities by league bosses this week following a series of high-profile rule breaches in the Premier League and postponements throughout the pyramid.
The Gas have been hit harder than most, with fixtures against Accrington Stanley and Portsmouth canned following positive tests in the opposition camps. Rovers have also had their own outbreak which saw two games postponed.
Only Accrington, with 17 games played compared to Rovers' 18, are further behind schedule in League One this season. Simply, the Gas can ill afford more postponements with 16 games in the next eight weeks.
Tisdale insists Rovers are not shirking their responsibilities and are considering strengthened measures, including asking players to drive to away games individually, to reduce the risk of further outbreaks at the club.
"We did (speak) on the training ground today and I apologised to them for being a bit of a bore and we’ve got to do it," the manager said.
"I reminded them that having a healthy squad is probably the most significant aspect to the second half of our season and its success or failure. Being healthy is huge and our responsibility to do right by everyone is as well.
"I think we were spooked a month ago when we had three or four cases in the club and a 10-day isolation. We came back from it and maybe we were spooked a little bit earlier than other clubs. We’ve been particularly careful.
"We are playing football on a football pitch, so there are times when people bump into each other, but we’re out in the open. We’ve minimised everything we can do internally to the point where we report on the pitches, we get straight in our car and we drive home.
"We’re even considering not going on a coach to travel to games with players driving their own cars.
"We’re doing everything we possibly can, we realise how important it is to stay healthy and do our bit for the fight against COVID."
With cases rising across the country, footballers and their goal celebrations have come under increased scrutiny from Westminster.
Tisdale accepts contact should be avoided where possible, but he won't be angry if his players do embrace after scoring.
"I think it’s right we question it and try our best not to (make contact while celebrating)," he said.
"It’s going to be one of the few things that’s impossible for me to be cross with a player who suddenly forgets in the moment because they’ve been doing it for the last 10-20 years of their life. It’s automatic to celebrate.
"On a personal note, I’ve always been against players over-celebrating, because until the game’s won I don’t like the idea of us overdoing it.
"It’s music to my ears a little bit, but there will inevitably be a moment where you just cannot help yourself.
"We have to keep asking and pushing ourselves to the limit but the realistic answer is it’s going to be incredible to ask a player to suddenly remember that in the height of emotion, but there are plenty of other things we can do and we should do."
