THIS time last week, Colchester United were suitably buoyed by the optimism created by a comprehensive away win.

The U’s impressive 3-0 triumph at Carlisle United strangely now seems such a long, long time ago.

The memory of that victory might be considerably hazier by the time John McGreal’s side next kick a football in League Two.

And who knows when that will be?

The EFL have said the resumption date will be April 4, at the earliest.

But the suspension of the professional game was the right decision and unavoidable, with players and coaches testing positive for coronavirus.

It was frustrating weekend for all football fans (aside from those of National League clubs, perhaps); it will be the same in the coming weeks.

And as the severity of the global situation deepens, the suspension of professional football may well be extended.

The prospect of the domestic club season being extended to July is a real possibility.

The EFL board will this week meet to discuss their next steps; there are plenty of complicated and important issues to discuss.

One of the main target points of the meeting will be to try and find a way to ease the financial burden of clubs under financial threat, in the wake of the suspension.

EFL clubs rely on matchday revenue including gate receipts and this is undoubtedly a worrying time, in so many respects.

Another difficult issue is the logistics of player contracts; those in the final years of their existing deals cease to be employed on June 30.

If a player has not signed for a new club by then, his previous team is obliged to keep paying him until the end of the season.

Then there’s the matter of loan players, such as Theo Robinson at the U’s.

There are naturally so many questions at the moment but so few answers.

Will the season be declared null and void? Will games be played in the summer? Will there be relegation and promotion? Will refunds need to be paid out to season-ticket holders?

No-one really knows the outcome at the moment but these truly are unprecedented times.

Football matters so much to so many and for some, it is their livelihood, which is obviously a big concern for many at the moment.

It's absence will be felt by so many but the collective disappointment of missing out on games being played is miniscule compared to the health and well-being of individuals.

As we have so tragically seen, the devastating impact coronavirus is having worldwide is so much bigger than sport.

As we have so tragically seen, the devastating impact coronavirus is having worldwide is so much bigger than sport.