David Artell has praised the return of supporters to stadia. Cheshire East has been entered into a Tier 2 standing thus allowing 2,000 socially distance supporters inside the Alexandra Stadium once we leave the national lockdown at the beginning of next month.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “It is a really positive step in the right direction. Not just for football but life in general. I think it will help everyone.

“The local communities and businesses need football. It benefits the chippy across the road or the newsagent by the train station, all those things. It has that much of an impact.

“It will be great to have the supporters back. I am not sure what the rules will be about shouting and cheering but just to have them there, clapping and being with us will make a difference.

“There is no doubt that the first few games without fans were sterile. It was difficult and there is no doubt that players benefit from having fans there.

“I am all sure all football fans will adhere to the rules, social distance properly, wear masks when they need to, wash their hands, all that and if they don’t then they don’t deserve to be inside the stadiums anyway.

He added: “The virus is still amongst us and we have to remain cautious because people have died and are still dying.”