From the coffee shop in Bewdley, to 'Trigger' (Gavin Hurren) posting interesting picture round Quiz games on WhatsApp - Mark Yates on life in lockdown, his thoughts on the Southern League Premier Division Central being confirmed 'null and void', and plans for the 2020-21 campaign....

How are you and the club operating on a daily basis now?

The Chairman has had to deal with the business side of the football Club. With football cancelled and the clubhouse and bar closed, I can imagine he's had to make some very tough decisions. But what I do know, is that it will have been done with compassion and empathy towards the staff and everyone concerned totally understands the situation.

Personally I have a coffee shop in Bewdley which I have had to close on government advice. I've had end of year accounts to keep me fairly busy. Also myself, partner and the kids have to cope like everyone else - home schooling, cleaning the house (as I'm a bit OCD) and the garden, walking the dog, trying to get fitter and generally just sticking to the advice we are given, in the hope that this isolation ends sooner rather than later.

How busy are you in your duties?

Obviously there's football stuff to sort. It's a strange situation because you have to prepare but at the moment you don't know what you need to know - when you're preparing for, budgets, pre-season games. We know what we want to do, we have plans in place between the staff and we'll be ready to run them out whenever we get the green light to go ahead.

Will the current situation bring planning and recruitment for the new campaign to a standstill?

In a way, yes. However, as you can imagine along with my staff - Neil Howarth and Gavin Hurren (Trigger), we talked constantly about the type of team we want to put out next season, about our players and about who we'd like to see put on the Stourbridge shirt next season. Our football scouts Tony Boardman and Paul Shannon - who were my district and County managers from my schooldays have been tasked with a couple of projects.

Are you speaking with the Chairman regularly?

Yes. Andy and myself talk a few times each week, or whenever there is anything to report. He is a busy man, always working. I know he'll do his best for the Club and get us through these difficult times and in as strong a position as he can, along with Andy and the board, for the seasons ahead.

And the players?

I have spoken to the players, thanked them for their efforts over the season on behalf of the Club, and just said that I'll be in touch when we know exactly what's happening. There is a WhatsApp group that we check up on them from time to time. Trigger puts some interesting 'picture round quizzes' on there to test the lads judgement and eyesight!!!!

How is their morale at this difficult time?

The players' morale seems fine. A number of them are still able to work and a number of others have been furloughed. They're all trying to keep up their fitness levels and keep sane. We're here for them to talk to if they need us.

Is there an air of frustration from a personal point of view, given that yourself and Neil Howarth had only just taken charge of the first team?

I'm a pretty philosophical type of person, and I just try to get on with whatever is put in front of me. There is no point getting frustrated - I'd rather get prepared and deal with what's happening and be ready for whenever football is back on.

Myself and Neil are delighted to be at the Club and desperate to succeed. Everyone at the Club has been brilliant and we aim to repay that faith with success. I've brought Gavin in to help us and his enthusiasm and knowledge of this level is both infectious and startling. He played for us at Kidderminster Harriers, and will be a real positive influence on my backroom staff.

Although you'd only just returned to management, what are your thoughts on the Southern League Premier Division Central being null and void? Would you have taken a different option to conclude the 2019-20 campaign?

I know that I wouldn't be happy if I was Tamworth! That said, I'd just have to get on with it. The Southern League obviously thought it would be in the best interests of all their Clubs to do what they did. There were a couple of decisions they could have taken. The one they did or go with an average of points per game, and putting that into the league table, but what would they have done about the play-offs, as no-one knows when play would resume ?

And finally.....is there a message you'd like to put out to the Stourbridge supporters during this period of lockdown?

First of all to stay safe and stay well. Hopefully we can get back to playing football soon, and only when it's safe to do so.

Then, with your help, we aim to build a squad capable of winning promotion out of this division. We're trying to put plans in place to recruit players that work hard, excite us all and play with energy and passion for Stourbridge Football Club.