Dumbarton boss Jim Duffy admits that a return to action after 13 weeks will be tough for his players as he hit back at those branding footballers in Scotland ‘privileged’.
The Sons lost 2-1 to Stranraer in a closed-door friendly at Clydebank’s Holm Park on Saturday, as they prepare to return to action against Forfar Athletic this weekend.
And Duffy hopes that fans and pundits alike will be sympathetic to the unique situation facing lower league players.
He told the Lennox: “It’s been extremely difficult for any player. We had a really bad spell of weather too where they couldn’t even go out for a jog if they wanted.
“It’s different from last time when gyms were open and we had lighter nights.
“It’s not been an ideal situation for anybody but the players just have to try to keep themselves in as good a position as they possibly can.
“I hear top managers like Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and so on speaking about the impact of not having the right pre-season and so on. They were all screaming about five substitutes down there and they have squads that are 24 at a minimum.
“For us to get back playing with part-time players will be tough.
“But that aside the players are obviously looking forward to it.
“We’re going to need everyone, we’re going to have to look at the squad on a game-by-game basis and try and make sure that we don’t take undue risks with players.
“Even in a normal season you normally need three or four games to get up to speed. Any player will say that. There’s a different fitness and sharpness required for games.”
Meanwhile, with fans now facing more than a year locked out of games, Duffy believes the lack of atmosphere is something that impacts performances.
He continued: “Being involved in sport without fans is very strange.
“I’ve been at a number of big games through my media work and it’s just vacuous. It’s like playing in a big echo chamber.
“You can hear everything and it’s so difficult for players in those situations.
“I think they should be given a wee bit more leeway. I’m a bit surprised by the pundits who are being a bit overcritical at times. None of them played in those sorts of circumstances, you’d never really know what it’s like until you experience it.
“Fans and pundits should be a wee bit more forgiving when it comes to the players now, because it is so completely different.
“Everyone will say that they’re lucky to still be playing, and I get that, but that doesn’t mean it’s got the same intensity, focus and concentration levels.
“I think being behind closed doors is something that has an impact on everybody. It affects referees, it affects players, it affects coaches.
“Sometimes your focus can drift, but the fans will let you know if you make a mistake. If you do something well then you’ll get a cheer and that gives everyone a wee spring in their step.
“If you don’t get that then it’s strange and so different.”
And Duffy also took aim at the language used around football, which he believes is unfair on most of those in the Scottish game.
The gaffer added: “Personally I get fed up and very frustrated with people suggesting that footballers are privileged and elite. That’s all nonsense.
“There are a lot of people who are privileged in the elite groups, but we don’t refer to them as that all the time.
“Most of the footballers that I know are certainly not privileged and certainly not members of the elite.
“When you throw phrases like that around it doesn’t do anyone any good. I think it’s unfair.”
