FOOTBALL is “not the same” without supporters, Weymouth director of football Paul Maitland admitted.

Fans have been absent from the Bob Lucas Stadium since the 2-0 win over Slough on Saturday, March 14.

In the intervening eight months, Weymouth achieved promotion to the Vanarama National League and replaced Southend-bound boss Mark Molesley with Brian Stock.

And Maitland spoke of the “surreal” situation during the pandemic that has led to Stock taking charge without a welcome from fans.

“Without supporters it’s not the same,” he told Echosport.

“I said to Brian after his first home game ‘you must be the first Weymouth manager to have a home game and not have anybody here to welcome you to the Bob Lucas other than players and board members that were there.’

“It’s pretty surreal that we’re eight games into the season and the manager hasn’t really met the supporters yet. It’s just the times we live in at the moment.”