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Stuart Kettlewell: 'Coronavirus leaves Ross County in limbo'

County were due to play Hamilton on Saturday.

Stuart Kettlewell has revealed Ross County's players are on standby as they await the next instructions amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The Staggies were preparing to face Hamilton in the Ladbrokes Premiership when the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League's joint response group announced on Friday an immediate suspension with all games postponed until "further notice".

County's joint-manager Kettlewell spent Saturday morning "down the local park with my son and all his wee pals just getting a kick about" and he told the PA news agency that he and everyone else at the Dingwall club are in limbo.

"We had a starting XI ready to go against Hamilton, shaping up and we got word that the game was cancelled and that all games would be cancelled," said Kettlewell, who stated that no one at County had shown any symptoms of the virus.

"It was about getting the players off the pitch, getting some food and build a plan from there. But that is changing by the hour.

"Originally we told the players that we would see them on Monday to prepare for Hearts next week but it is looking increasingly likely that it might not be on and would be off for a longer period of time, although there has been no official confirmation.

"The players are on standby. If we thought the game would be on next Saturday then we would have to prepare accordingly as we always would but we are just waiting on that next piece of information and take it on from there."

While debate goes on with regards to when and how the season will be finished, and what would happen if it did not, Kettlewell's focus is on a much bigger picture.

He said: "I am siding on society rather than football.

"I would pitch myself up there as being as fanatical about football as anyone else.

"But following guidelines and being sensible about this is the most important approach.

"I really do feel that football falls into insignificance – and I know that if this goes on longer there will be financial implications for every club – but I think the well-being of society is clearly the most important thing.

"There is a lot of talk about promotions, relegations and winning championships, but I think these become secondary to us all trying to make sure we are doing the right things not only for footballers but our own partners and families."

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A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic330087285987
2RangersRangers320179275281
3Hearts311149371266
4Kilmarnock31114538755
5St Mirren31024247-546
6Dundee30034662-1641
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen33004149-844
2Motherwell32015554143
3Hibernian31024858-1042
4Ross County31023564-2933
5St Johnstone30032652-2631
RLivingston32012764-3724
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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