Steve Waggott says common sense has to be applied for all clubs to come through the ‘unchartered waters’ caused by the coronavirus.

Clubs are dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 virus, with the EFL taking the decision yesterday to postpone matches indefinitely.

Rovers, whose accounts for the financial year to June 2019 saw them post an £18m loss, are yet to announce any cost-cutting measures, with some of their Championship rivals having already furloughed some of their non-playing staff, with others having seen players opt to defer their wages.

EFL clubs were boosted yesterday by news the Premier League would advance its subsidiary payments of £125m to help ease the financial stain, which follows the £50m EFL relief fund set up last month.

And while clubs remain reliant on matchday income to survive, Waggott said that shouldn’t come at a cost to society.

He said: “Everyone has to apply common sense. It’s unprecedented unchartered waters that we’re all navigating through it together and come out the other side.

“Discussions among Championship clubs and other clubs that make up the pyramid have to be based upon when is the right time to resume football again. I know everyone misses it, but it does drain the frontline staff.

“We need ambulances, paramedics the last thing they need is the burden of football matches being played across the country.

“Common sense has to be used, the date moved from April 30, but we have to do what’s right and proper for the football in general, not just football.”

The first round of matches were postponed on March 13, 24 hours before Rovers were due to host Bristol City.

That was then pushed back to April 30 before the EFL’s decision yesterday to postpone the season indefinitely.

Waggott feels it is key to the league’s integrity for this season to be concluded, but knows that could be some way off.

He added: “We’ve had various discussions among clubs and with the EFL to apply common sense across the football industry, to protect the players, protect staff, protect supporters and for our tremendous frontline healthcare and medical services and everything they are going through.

“How can you run a game if you can’t have an ambulance or paramedics or the support services you need?

“Otherwise you’d be in breach of your safety certificate and can’t operate and neither should we because of the life and death situation people are finding themselves in across the UK and the world.”

The EFL statement read: “As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the EFL, Premier League, FA and Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship has today collectively agreed to postpone its football competitions until it is safe to resume.

“Football is committed in supporting the Government’s efforts in tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and the staging of football matches in this country. It is clearly something that simply cannot happen at this time. The thoughts of everyone associated with the EFL and its member Clubs are with anyone currently affected by the coronavirus.

“The situation will be kept under constant review with matches only returning at an appropriate point and based on the latest guidance provided by the relevant Government departments and health authorities.

“The EFL also notes and appreciates the decision taken today by the Premier League in respect of the short-term financial relief it is to provide EFL Clubs through the advancement of solidarity payments, parachute payments and Academy Grants.

“These actions will have a positive impact on individual Clubs across our three divisions at a difficult and uncertain time.”