Premier League outline plans to resume training
The Premier League are working towards a tentative resumption date of the week beginning June 8 following a meeting dominated by discussions over when their players will be permitted to return to training on Friday.
The clubs were told that the government will not make a special case for football during discussions over when and if to relax social distancing rules, leading the Premier League to outline a best-case scenario of training resuming on May 18 with matches starting again behind closed doors three weeks later.
A group of clubs have held private talks about wanting to set a deadline of June 30 to complete the campaign due to the legal complexities of extending player and commercial contracts beyond that date, but Sportsmail has been told that they did push this issue during Friday’s conference call.
Instead there was a commitment from all clubs to finish the season if possible with all willing to work to framework based on the existing fixture list.
The so-called Big Six are known to be particularly keen to play out the season as they have significant prize money and European qualification at stake, and they would be willing to carry on playing until August if necessary.
The Premier League are understood to have warned the clubs that they cannot expect any special privileges from government however, and that they will be subjected to the same measures regarding social distancing and Covid-19 as the rest of the country.
Raheem Sterling and Manchester City are among the sides keen to see the season played out +21
Virgil Van Dijk and Liverpool want to conclude the season so they can secure the Premier League title +21
Premier League clubs have been told not to expect any special privileges post Covid-19
Fans have had to be patient but clubs are keen to finish the season, rather than end it early +21
Fans have had to be patient but clubs are keen to finish the season, rather than end it early
As a result it is likely that the widespread availability of testing kits is a pre-requisite for matches to be staged even if they are held behind closed doors, as all players, staff and match-day personnel would need to be tested, a figure of several hundred people.
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‘In common with other businesses and industries, the Premier League and our clubs are working through complex planning scenarios,’ the Premier League said in a statement.
‘Today’s shareholders’ meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible scheduling models.
‘It remains our objective to complete the 2019-20 season, but at this stage all dates are tentative while the impact of Covid-19 develops.’