Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey has backed the town’s population to help themselves and Barrow AFC through the tough period of inaction caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Both of Barrow’s professional sports teams have been left spinning their wheels for over a week, with their respective seasons currently suspended until April 3, although these are likely to be extended in the coming days.

The biggest impact being made, in terms of the clubs’ finances is through matchday revenue, with the Bluebirds attracting crowds upward of 3,000 by the time the advice against mass gatherings came into place.

If and when the suspensions are made longer, the Raiders will start to be affected themselves, as it would likely cause their matches against Workington Town and London Skolars at Craven Park to be postponed.

Crarey said: “Everybody wants to see Barrow football get promoted because it’s part of the history of the town and everyone will pull together - they always do in this country when things are against us, that’s what we’re good at.

“It’ll be like that in this area and I know the town will get behind the football and the rugby and if there’s any other organisation that needs support, they’ll get behind them as well when the time comes.

“But at the moment, there is so much apprehension because nobody knows what’s going on and only information we’re getting is from the media and on the TV.

“When you look at it, what’s being fed to us is pretty frightening, really.”

Crarey also believes the same spirit well help the amateur rugby league clubs in the area get through the next couple of months, with the Raiders themselves ready to chip in for them as well if need be.

Players such as Ulverston’s Liam Saunders and Millom’s Charlie Emslie have been on dual registration deals with Barrow in recent months and the link between the amateur and semi-pro games could become that little bit tighter.

Crarey said: “It’s going to hit everybody hard, but the amateur scene around here is very, very strong and when anything happens to any player or anybody needs help, everybody is there for everybody else. Hopefully, we’ll support them and they’ll support us and everybody will work together in the rugby league world, they always do.

“No-one has seen anything like this before - not in my lifetime anyway - and it’s like a war without fighting. People are panic-buying - there was no fuel at one place I went to last week - and you just think ‘what’s going on?’

“It’s like a calm before the storm and nobody really knows what is going to happen, so you’ve just got to be ready for when it does and ready for when it ends, and our club is preparing really well for both scenarios.”