David Dunn has called on football’s authorities to use common-sense to alleviate Barrow AFC’s “absolutely ridiculous” fixture list.

The Bluebirds are facing a hectic run of games in a short space of time following the rearrangement of their FA Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon.

Barrow, who go to Cambridge in League Two tomorrow, have at least three home games in six days between November 21-26, with the prospect of more matches quickly to follow.

Manager Dunn believes forcing his team to play so often in a cramped schedule could take a damaging toll on his players.

He said: “It’s not a case of making excuses but do I agree with it? Definitely not.

“In fact I’d go as far as to say it’s absolutely ridiculous.

“If we’re made to play three games in six days, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do, for either club, to be honest.

“The League and FA could just use a little bit of common-sense, and we would just rearrange the Tuesday game against Oldham [on November 24].

“Whether that happens I don’t know, but that would be the solution in my opinion.

“We’d be playing three in six, and potentially five in 12, six in 16…you hear all the top, top clubs having an opinion on a catalogue of games they have, but I don’t think they’ll have to play three games in six days.

“I think, in terms of the physical output the players have to put in, and also the mental side, there’s a real case for the well-being of the players being affected here.

“As a manager or head coach, you always have to be in a position where we can play our strongest team in every single game we play.

“Asking players to play three games in six days...something’s got to give.

“We’ll have to change a number of players. Whether that’s in the FA Cup or league, the integrity of the competition is going to suffer, because we can’t field the same players three games in six days – it’s not right.

“We’re asking for real trouble in terms of injuries.”

Dunn stressed that it was his personal opinion, rather than him speaking on behalf of the club.

But he hoped the authorities would listen and help the Bluebirds.

After tomorrow's trip to the Abbey Stadium, AFC host Forest Green next Saturday and Oldham on the Tuesday, with the Wimbledon first round cup tie – originally postponed because of positive Covid-19 tests in the Dons ranks – now on the Thursday.

Victory in the latter would see another home game against Crawley in the second round that Sunday, with a midweek trip to Morecambe in the league next.

“There are certain questions the powers that be need to answer,” Dunn added. The main thing for me is the welfare of the players, physically and mentally. It’s common sense.

“From a football point of view, it’s absolutely crazy.

“Let’s be honest, the game’s moved on, we feel, a lot, in terms of this kind of situation. The Christmas period, for example, has been made a lot better now. We’re getting rid of games at Christmas that I used to have to play [in quick succession].

“Now in a pandemic we’re asking players to play three games in six days.

“I’m only bothered about Barrow, but a good friend of mine is the Wimbledon manager [Glyn Hodges] – they’re going to be asked to go to Rochdale next Saturday, back down to their base, across to play Gillingham on the Tuesday night, then up to play Barrow on a Thursday.

“Anyone with a slight understanding of football would say that’s not right. All we can do is ask the question to the League and FA and ask who’s making the decision. Is it a group or an individual?

“If it’s an individual having the say, they mustn’t have any understanding of professional football and schedules and what players need to go through in this day and age. If that is the case it needs changing and they need to replace whoever it is making these decisions.”

Dunn also said the excellent work done by groundsman Gareth Morgan on the pitch at the Progression Solicitors Stadium, along with the investment the club have put into it, could be hit by a rapid number of games in quick succession, particularly if it suffers heavy weather.

“All that hard work, and the type of style of football we want to play, could really take a hit,” he said.

“It’s not those three games that take the hit, it will be for the rest of the season.”