YOKER Athletic have forfeited an eagerly-awaited fixture after one of their players tested positive for Covid-19, it has been announced.

Yoker had been due to play Drumchapel United at home on Saturday, November 7 - but the Holm Park club has now revealed that on the morning of the previous day, they found out that one of their players had tested positive after playing the full 90 minutes of the club's match against East Kilbride Thistle on November 4.

The club issued a statement on Wednesday announcing that bosses from the West of Scotland Football League have now penalised the Whe Ho by awarding Drumchapel a 3-0 win from the unplayed match.

According to the statement, following the positive test from the player, who has not been named, Yoker chiefs then put protocols in place with a series of telephone conversations with their full committee, a Covid officer and the club’s Covid co-ordinator.

The club then asked the league to postpone the match and rearrange for a later date.

But they say that request which was turned down as league officials wanted evidence that Yoker had seven or more players test positive, awaiting Covid tests, or had been contacted by NHS Track and Trace.

A Yoker Athletic spokesperson said: “The decision was made that after consulting the management and players, that our only course of action, to completely ensure their safety whilst still awaiting advice from NHS Track and Trace was to call off the match.

“We contacted the league, and Drumchapel United to inform them of our decision, and emailed the interim management group (IMG), asking them again for a postponement based on the health and safety of our players along with our opposition management and players and match official.

“We could not at that point guarantee that we had no one else who could be infectious.”

The IMG met to hear Yoker’s case and sent the club's chairman an email of their decision.

It read: “In conclusion, as Yoker FC could not meet the agreed and communicated criteria of proof of a minimum of 7 (seven) players being contacted by Test and Protect, which has been used for previous requests for postponement, we have no alternative but to award the match to Drumchapel Utd by a scoreline of 3-0.

“It was also agreed that due to the difficult nature of the situate we are all operating in that no additional sanction will be added in this instance.”

Yoker's spokesperson added: “We do not agree with the IMG’s decision, however we have no option but to reluctantly accept it and we will move forward.

“The club fully intend to honour our remaining games this season in both the league and cup competitions.”