Brad Collins thinks allowing Barnsley fans into post-coronavirus games could make big difference

The Reds are in a Championship relegation battle, seven points adrift of safety with nine matches to play.

The Football League are keen that the season be played out if at all possible but the longer the coronavirus lockdown, the harder that becomes. To speed things up, matches could be played behind closed doors, something the League are planning around.

Like many in football, goalkeeper Collins is keen to see the season brought to a natural conclusion, but hopes supporters can be there.

“I want to finish the season,” he told his club's official website. “I think in the last nine games that we’ve got the fans could be vital for us so, I’d like to see the fans there.

“If it has to be without them so be it – but I’d definitely like them to be there.”

Talks are ongoing as to how and when fixtures can next be played. Earlier this month the League wrote to its clubs telling them not expect to be allowed back into their training grounds before May 16 at the earliest, and a June 6 date for the first competitive matches has been mooted, but this is almost entirely dependent on Government health advice.

The League are planning around a 56-day window to complete the season, including play-offs in the usual format.

Collins admits he is finding the lockdown boring, and says it is important players interact to keep one another's spirits up.

“It’s pretty boring, to be honest,” he said. “I’m just keeping on top of my fitness and making sure I’m eating the right things – that’s about it. We’re not going out, which is obviously what we’ve been told to do.

“When you’re in and around the changing room every day with the boys, to be at home and not seeing them for a while – you just want to be with them and having a laugh.

“I’m still in contact with them – more Kev (Pilkington, the goalkeeping coach). We talk about what we’ve been doing or what we could do and a little bit of banter still flies around, so we keep that going. That’s important as well.”

Like everyone, he is restricted in what training he can do.

“I’ve had a bike since the start of it, I ordered one straight away and I’ve been doing a lot of cycling because it’s good for goalkeepers, so I tend to do a lot of cycling and a bit of running on the side,” he revealed.

“Then I do a bit of upper body strength, which is obviously one of the main things as well. Trying to maintain that is quite hard because I don’t have a lot of weights to lift, so it’s normally just body weight things."