'Pandemic could set women's football back by ten years' says CEO of UK Coaching

The impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could set girls' and women's football back a decade, according to UK Coaching chief executive Mark Gannon.

Gannon insists action must be taken to ensure the number of coaches - especially in the female game - is not allowed to dwindle as clubs and facilities count the cost of lockdown.

Gannon, whose organisation is working closely with the FA to encourage more women and girls to get involved in the game, said: "The biggest fear is that this pushes us back 10 years.

"We had such momentum in the girls' and women's game leading into the pandemic, and I'm not sure we had enough coaches and volunteers in the first place.

"Quite rightly, people are going to be concerned about their own positions given the pandemic, and the fear is that we lose some of those people to the women's game.

"We won't really know what the impact is until people start coming back, but clearly there are a lot of things going on in people's lives.

"It (the girls' and women's game) is more susceptible because it's not so well established. Hopefully we won't lose that momentum, and it is important we make it as easy as possible to coach in a safe and active environment."

Local football has been allowed to resume across most areas of the UK this month, although a surge in infections has raised fresh fears of restrictions.