Garner: Vaccine decision will be left to STFC players

BEN GARNER has insisted that Swindon Town will not attempt to force its players into receiving the Coronavirus vaccine as the 21/22 League Two season got underway, revealing that the decision will be left to the players. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to the new STFC Head Coach to discuss the topic yesterday.

With fans returning in force for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began to watch Swindon Town secure three points on the opening day of the season at Scunthorpe United, the issue of coronavirus was still present, albeit a relatively quiet talking point.

However, with Premier League clubs enforcing a Covid passport system that permits entry to stadiums for only those fans who have been double-vaccinated or can present a negative test result, the discussion around players receiving the vaccine has been brought to the forefront.

In the build-up to the 21/22 season, some clubs had to postpone pre-season matches due to Covid outbreaks. And with a selection of players refusing to take the jab, many clubs in the Premier League and EFL are looking at including vaccine clauses in future contracts.

But ahead of fans returning to the County Ground this weekend to watch Swindon host Carlisle United for the first home game of Clem Morfuni’s ownership, Head Coach, Ben Garner revealed the choice will be left to his players to take or refuse the jab.

“I know the medical staff have had conversations with the players but I haven’t gone in myself and had those conversations [about the vaccine] with the players,” said Garner.

“I think it’s a personal choice and I don’t think we as a club could enforce that either way. 

“There were conversations from the medical staff very early on when players came to the club with each individual player and what their preference was, whether they had the jabs or whether they wanted to have the jab,” he added.

“It’s a personal choice and it would be the same for anyone in any walk of life.

“If you work for a bank they aren’t going to tell you that you have to have the jab, it would be up to each individual and we treat them as individuals and people first.

“That’s certainly a personal choice,” said Garner.