Hartlepool United player tests positive for coronavirus as Middlesbrough under-23 friendly is cancelled

The club have announced that Friday’s proposed friendly against Middlesbrough under-23s at Victoria Park has been cancelled after a Pools player tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

An alternative friendly against Northern League Division One side Consett will now take place on Friday (7pm kick-off).

A club statement from acting executive director Martin Jesper read: “This is an isolated case as other players and staff have also been tested with negative results.

"Having consulted with our Club Covid Medical Officer and also discussed the matter with Middlesbrough FC it has been agreed that the fixture should not take place.

As it stands, Pools are still set to face Gateshead at the International Stadium on Saturday (1pm kick-off).

Hartlepool were planning to live stream the Boro under-23s match in preparation for the start of the new National League season which will take place behind closed doors if it goes ahead as planned.

Those who have bought season tickets at Pools for the upcoming season are now able to collect them from Victoria Park. There has been no mention of refunds or whether season ticket holders would have to pay for any live stream services on offer.

In the event matches go ahead behind closed doors, the club will grant season ticket holders an extra matchday ticket to attend a match when safe to do so. The long-awaited announcement of the new Pools kit has also been delayed once again though the club ‘remain confident’ that the new kits will be in store in time for ‘the start of the season’, whenever that may be.

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