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Testing not an option for Inverness Caley Thistle Women


By Andrew Henderson

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While there was good news for many involved in football earlier this week when it was announced they could return to training and matches, a sense of deja vu crept in for Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women.

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Inverness CT WFC(5) v Westdyke(1). 18.10.20.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Inverness CT WFC(5) v Westdyke(1). 18.10.20.

The Championship North outfit has not played since November 1, with several matches being postponed due to the tier system before the end of 2020, and then the total shut down of women’s football coming into force at the turn of the year.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, with the Scottish Women’s Premier League One included in those returning levels, albeit after committing to regular testing.

But that has reinforced it will be a while before Caley Thistle are back in Championship North action, with testing not even an option that can be considered financially.

“We had a Championship meeting and they were updating us on what the government and the SFA were saying,” Mason said.

“The cost for the SWPL One to test before matches over a nine-week period is something like £117,000, which once you take away funding, left each team looking to cover a shortfall of £8000.

“For us, that’s a no-go, we wouldn’t even be able to look at that to be honest.

“Hopefully, testing won’t have to be a thing by the time we get back, that’s the only way I can see it panning out for us, because that’s not ever going to be feasible.”

While frustrating to have once again gone so long without matches, with no option to even train more recently, Mason understands the thinking behind keeping them away from the pitch – not that she has any other choice.

“The explanation behind it all is that it’s a phased return, like the schools,” the Caley Thistle manager reasoned.

“They’re going back a little bit at a time, not gung-ho, so I understand where they’re coming from.

“You can understand why they’re doing it as a phased return, it’s frustrating for us to still not see any action but I think it’s probably the most sensible approach at the end of the day.”


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