DAVID Dunn will again be absent from the Barrow dugout for tomorrow night's clash with Bolton Wanderers after testing positive for Covid-19.

The former Blackburn Rovers star missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Harrogate Town after receiving a positive test result on Friday evening.

Dunn and his assistant manager Rob Kelly, who had a brief spell on the coaching staff at Ewood Park, are now both self-isolating. 

Craig Rutherford and Sam Hird led the team against Harrogate and will do so again against Bolton.

Stand-in boss Hird admitted the fall-out from Dunn’s positive Covid-19 test proved “very disruptive” prior to the 1-0 defeat.

The 33-year-old defender was told that he and development coach Rutherford would be taking charge of the Bluebirds little more than three hours before kick-off.

Dunn had been isolating all week having shown telltale symptoms of the virus but only received the results of his test on the eve of the game and Barrow were then informed that both he and Kelly could not be present at Wetherby Road.

Jack Muldoon’s first-half goal settled matters between the two teams, who were promoted from the Football League last term.

Former Chesterfield and Doncaster defender Hird said: “It wasn’t ideal preparation in terms of the build-up with what happened to the manager and the assistant manager.

“It was very disruptive and we did not know that we would be taking the team until we were asked at 11.30am.

“That was the first time we knew we would be without the manager and, then, we found out we would be without the assistant as well. We were told by the authorities that the game had to go ahead and had a quick team meeting.

“But, myself and Craig gave it a right good go and might be asked to do it again now on Tuesday.”