Alex Mowatt says Barnsley want to finish season in right and proper way

In the footballing realm, that represents a refreshing break from the norm.

The egotistical comments of West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady – who called for the season to be declared “null and void” in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak – united most in the game in their contempt for a statement that was borne out of pure self-interest, with Hammers languishing just above the bottom three on goal difference and harbouring big relegation fears.

Like West Ham, Barnsley, propping up the Championship with nine games left, would benefit if 2019-20 was abandoned, with clubs starting afresh next term.

But for Reds captain Alex Mowatt, bringing the season to a natural conclusion after 46 games and securing their second-tier place by efforts on the pitch and not by default is the right and proper way.

On the fairness of playing on in 2019-20, whenever that may be, Mowatt told The Yorkshire Post: “I’d say so. They could scrap the season fully and we’d be staying up in the Championship.

“But we want to finish the season and start again as soon as possible – when everyone is safe.

“Is the season going to finish and when is it going to start and finish? No-one really knows what is going to happen and it is the hardest bit. Everyone is wanting to find out and know.

“Behind closed doors is not ideal. But if it gets the games done to finish the season, we will have to do that.”

As much of the globe self-isolates, the wonders of modern-day technology has at least been making life that little bit easier for families, friends and colleagues alike to communicate and shine a bit of light into their daily lives.

For Barnsley – whose multi-cultural squad of footballers includes a number from the continent – it is a particularly important work and social tool in testing times.

Several of the club’s Europe--based players have returned home, but they are keeping in touch with team-mates via WhatsApp with the communication lines having been constant, with time for a bit of fun as well.

Mowatt added: “A lot of the players went home straightaway and they are in lockdown in Austria and Germany, similar to here and it’s quite bad over there.

“We all have our WhatsApp groups and keep in touch through that. The lads back in Austria and Germany and asking what things are like back here. Everyone is just keeping in touch.

“Everyone has got an individual programme and has got to complete that at home. You have to finish that by one o’clock in the day. It is about sticking to the normal scheduled times.

“Everyone does different things to keep ticking over. People go out on their bikes, do their weights and do their running and everyone is different.”

As for how and he his team-mates are filling their leisure time, as at most clubs, it mainly involves computer games and the latest challenges sweeping social media.

Mowatt said: “I am always playing FIFA and there are a lot of challenges going around on Instagram, so everyone has just been doing them and tagging people in it. It has made sure everyone has been doing something.

“We have had the toilet roll ‘keepy-uppy’ challenge and that got going in the WhatsApp group and the gaffer got involved. We have had all sorts of different challenges. It is a bit of fun.

“Everyone does different things to keep ticking over. People go out on their bikes, do their weights and do their running and everyone is different.

“The main thing you miss is just being in the changing room and around the boys.”