Falkirk boss focused on football not coronavirus

There’s a global panic on over the spread of coronavirus – but all Lee Miller has on his mind is Dumbarton on Saturday and stockpiling points in the SPFL League One.
Lee Miller. Picture: Michael Gillen.Lee Miller. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Lee Miller. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The Falkirk boss admits he has become so immersed in his job he’s too busy thinking about a team to pile up the goals on Saturday rather than stockpiling the bare essentials in light of the illness pandemic.

Raith John McGlynn has told our sister title the Fife Free Press he reckons Raith deserve the title in the event of a season being cut short – but that hadn’t even entered Miller’s thinking.

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He said: “[The ramifications] of it all is not something that’s really crossed my mind, because you’re so focused on the next game - now Dumbarton.

“It’s weird, you focus so much on the team you’re facing on a Saturday - nothing else matters away from it. The longer I’ve been in this role, you just tend to develop a fixation on the opposition.

“My wife and my kids slaughter me for it, but there are plenty of times where I’m just zoned out and focused on a Saturday and looking at our team and how we’re shaping up fitness-wise who’s on it and who’s off it.

“I didn’t expect to become so immersed. I can normally switch off, but it’s completely different as a player – you’re responsible for more than just yourself.”

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That’s not to say precautions are not being taken at The Falkirk Stadium in light of the government advice over the illness outbreak.

Hand gel has always been in prominent supply around the ground floor of the Stadium, and Miller added: “It’s a difficult one because we are such a tight unit, it’s difficult not to be close to one another. The boys are doing their bit and washing our hands a bit extra and taking extra care so hopefully everyone remains fighting fit.”

Handshakes are banned, games are already being played behind closed doors and this week Arsenal’s meeting with Manchester City was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Rangers will also play their Europa League match with Bayer Leverkusen without any fans, next week.

There are, as yet, no plans to do similar in Scotland but speculation has been rife over the impact the outbreak COULD have on sport.

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Competitions annulled or postponed or seasons could be ended early is one suggestion and in such an event Raith Rovers boss John McGlynn reckons the Fife side should be awarded the League One title.He told our sister title The Fife Free Press : “It’s unprecedented this situation we’re in. I think it would need to come down to who has been top of the table for the longest period of the season.”

The Scottish Football Association and SPFL have set up a joint task-force to monitor the ongoing situation.