COLCHESTER United this weekend host their first game at the JobServe Community Stadium since new regulations were introduced for football fans.

The U's are asking supporters to work with them and do their bit when they welcome Hartlepool United for a League Two clash, on Saturday afternoon.

The main changes surrounding Covid passes inroduced due to the increase in Omicron cases of Covid-19 won't affect supporters attending Colchester home matches.

However, fans will have have to wear face coverings when situated in indoor areas of stadiums, apart from when eating or drinking or if exempt.

Supporters and staff using the concourse areas, hospitality lounges, corridors and stairwells will be required to wear face coverings until they get to their seat in the stadium to watch the game.

U's general manager Tim Waddington said: "The current round of restrictions don’t have a significant impact on us as we are below the attendance thresholds, both in terms of ground capacity and indoor hospitality suites.

"We’ve been determined to operate the matchday to keep fans in as safe an environment as possible and taken a cautious approach all season.

"We will ask fans to support us and follow the Government regulations and wear face masks when in concourses and in hospitality suites.

"We all need to do our bit if we are to avoid further restrictions.

"Our ticketing system has been set to continue social distancing throughout and we are well placed to make further changes should the Government tighten the rules (i.e. certification)."

Colchester say they will continue to provide as much hand sanitiser as they can and are encouraging fans to use it and/or wash their hands regularly.

The U's are also reminding fans to practise social distancing as best they can whilst in or around the stadium.

A host of EFL games scheduled for this weekend have already been postponed because of the virus.

The League Two matches at Crawley Town, Northampton Town and Swindon Town have been called off.

The EFL yesterday issued guidance to clubs, in the wake of the rising Covid-19 cases.

They have put in place a regime of enhanced training ground protocols, increased testing and provided updated guidance on the minimum number of available players that are required to fulfil a fixture.

Clubs will be expected to implement a daily screening programme of testing, and any person with a positive test of symptoms will then be required to take a PCR test and isolate in line with Government guidance.