Hall Road Rangers manager Leon Sewell says Non League clubs are going to have to accept there is likely to be disruption in the next few weeks.
Daily rates are rising and the government are bracing themselves for them to reach 100,0000 very soon.
With millions also isolating due to the test and trace system and the NHS app, the start of the Toolstation NCEL season is likely to be affected.
Friendlies are being postponed right, left and centre and Sewell admits the situation is unavoidable and he is urging clubs and players to be sensible and follow the rules.
“Everyone is in the same boat and everyone is going to have players who are isolating or tested positive,” Sewell told Non League Yorkshire.
“Unfortunately the pandemic has gone on longer than everyone thought it would do and it is frustrating.
“Football is the UK’s number one game and everyone loves, but we’re going to have to be patient and be mindful and respectful of people who are in our clubs and of opposition clubs.
“We have to accept (that with Non League Football) there’s going to be short-term pain for long-term gain.
“Potentially there is going to be disruption (to Non League Football). The rates in Hull and the East Riding are supposed to be one of the highest in Yorkshire.
“The long and short of it for me is that it is the younger generation that haven’t been double-jabbed (that are driving the rates up).
“You can’t say to players ‘don’t do this, don’t go out’ because that’s not right, but they do have a part to play in it as they could potentially bring it into the club and then it gets even worse.
“All my players know they have to let me know immediately if they start showing symptoms and that they are to stay away.
“It is frustrating seeing a game taken away, but it is something you have to respect in my eyes.
“We have been a victim of it (friendlies postponed) ourselves.
“We had one player test positive on Tuesday before the Grimsby Borough game.
“He hadn’t been in contact with any of the players since the Thursday.
“(Chairman) Darren (Sunley) has a duty of care to the players and everyone at the club and we felt it was the right thing to do (to call it off).
“We also cancelled training on Thursday and all the players will be getting lateral flow tested before the Barton game (yesterday).”
Sewell is also in agreement with Campion joint manager Lee Ashforth that clubs will be hit by further problems in late-August if foreign holidays are advised by the government.
“A part we haven’t spoken about is the fact airports are going to back open soon,” he said.
“Everyone has been locked up for 18 months so if someone wants to get on a plane and go abroad – you know what ‘get yourself out there and go enjoy your time away’.
“Everyone deserves a break after what we have been put through.
“The stress everyone has had is just ridiculous.
“Again everybody (all teams) is in the same boat.
“You always have player unavailability, it is the level we are at, you have to accept it.”
Hall Road have yet to confirm their new signings (as of Saturday night), but Sewell has dangled a carrot and captured several to grow the size of his squad.
The most pleasing factor though is that he retained everyone from last season’s squad apart from Connor Boyd and Will Broadley who have left to go play local football.
“I spoke to all the players in November last year and then kept in touch with them,” he said.
“In April we played three friendly games – Thorne Colliery, Hedon Rangers and Goole AFC – and again I spoke to all the players individually and they all said they were committing.
“To have players like Alex Knaggs, James Piercy, captain Conner Harman and Rich Medcalf staying with us, is massive.”