NEWPORT County AFC captain Joss Labadie has expressed his support of the decision to postpone the professional game until April 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak, writes Olly Johnson.

County were due to travel to Broadhall Way today to take on League Two’s bottom club Stevenage and it was business as usual in training following Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Carlisle United.

But the English Football League announced yesterday morning that all fixtures would be suspended for the remainder of this month.

“We’ve prepared all week like we would for any other game,” explained Labadie.

“So that means training and going through all the set-pieces, as we would any other Friday. We’ve gone into it like any other weekend.

“That’s all we could do really and trust that whatever decision the authorities made would be the right one.

“As you can imagine in the changing room it’s a bit of a talking point,” added the 29-year-old.

“It’s out of our control. We can just do what they are telling us to – wash your hands and be careful you know, stuff like that.”

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League matches in Italy and Spain and Champions League and Europa League fixtures have been played behind closed doors over the past week but Labadie is glad that the Exiles are not being asked to follow suit.

“It would be strange,” said the skipper. “I think it would be more for the fans so that they don’t come into contact as opposed to the players as obviously it’s a contact sport.

“You will be making contact with other players so it’s a bit of a weird one but, yeah, I’m not sure what we’re going to do.

“I’ve not really thought too much in depth about it,” he added.

“I know there’s a lot of opinions about postponing the season and carrying on at a later date and even Euro 2020 being postponed until next year.

“I’m sure whatever decision they make will be a well thought out one and that will be the right thing to do.”

For the time being, County will remain in 15th position in the League Two table.

As well as today’s trip to Stevenage, they will also have to find new dates for matches at Crawley Town, at home to Colchester United and away to Cheltenham Town and Salford City.

Michael Flynn’s men could be back in action on April 4 when they are due to host Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade, but there is no guarantee that the league programme will resume on that date.