The coach at a boxing club with members from Oswestry and St Martins says he can not wait to welcome boxers back into the gym once it is safe to do so.

David Jones, known by club members as Butch, has kept in touch with boxers who train with him at Maelor Amateur Boxing Club, based in Cefn Mawr, and is ready to re-open the gym once he gets given the go-ahead.

He does admit however that he fears sports like boxing may have to wait a little longer to resume because of the close-contact nature of the sport.

“It does worry me a bit,” he said. “But the lads have been great – they phone me up and ask me how I’m doing and they all want to come back.

“Some of the lads asked if they could take bags home to train at home, so we’ve let them do that.

“They are very good, they’re always checking how things are, it’s nice to hear from them.

“But it is sad, as it is we have to abide by the rules set, and if we cant open the gym, we can’t open the gym.

“I’m ready to open as soon as they give the go ahead though. The gym is nice and clean and ready for people to train there.”

Butch has been involved with boxing for more than 40 years, and says the enforced lockdown has meant he has taken a longer break from coaching than he ever has before.

He hopes boxing authorities are able to come up with solutions to get the sport back up-and-running as soon as it is safe again.

He said: “I personally think it will be a longer wait for sports like boxing. I know you see what happens in the boxing ring for actual bouts, but that’s only the end product.

“As far as training goes in the gym, there’s padwork, sparring and floorwork with heavy medicine balls and other equipment, so it’s all contact.

“I don’t really know how there will be a way to get around it – if you are allowed to go there and just use the bags, it’s like being able to get in a car but not being allowed to drive it.”