Players Given 10 Days Off - Ipswich Town News
The Town squad have been given 10 days off with the season having been suspended until at least April 3rd.
The Blues’ players were at the club on Friday for training and ahead of the trip to Bristol Rovers for Saturday’s match until the EFL confirmed the suspension of fixtures due to the coronavirus.
They were subsequently sent home and told to report back in 10 days' time, in line with most other clubs. Off-field staff are continuing to work from Portman Road.
The players have not been told to self-isolate and no one is understood to have contracted the coronavirus.
While the Premier League and EFL are currently suspended until April 3rd, it appears all but certain that the hiatus will be much longer with some reports even suggesting it could last until September.
Increasingly, it appears that the football authorities may be forced to cancel the rest of the 2019/20 season and declare it void, much to the frustration of clubs closing in on titles and promotion.
Top sports lawyer Richard Cramer, speaking specifically about the Premier League, says that in the unlikely event of matches restarting next month then the campaign could be saved.
"If they get the games going by the beginning of April, I think we should be all right," Cramer told Sky Sports News.
"But if we go through to May or June, it's almost inevitable - it's almost the equivalent of what happened in the world wars - that the season just has to be cancelled and they start all over again.
"It's obviously devastating for the likes of Leeds United and West Brom. Those clubs are on the verge of promotion. Also Liverpool, obviously.
"It's not a great thought, but they will have to abide by what the majority say and what decision is eventually made by the board of directors."
What to read next:
Leeds Thrashed at QPRThe battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.
Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish RoleTown’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.
Season Tickets Sell OutTown have announced that season tickets for the 2024/25 season have sold out through existing renewals, meaning no new fans will become season ticket holders for the campaign ahead.
U18s Host BladesTown’s U18s are in Professional Development League Two South action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday morning (KO 11.30pm).
Rosenior: Our Cup FinalHull City boss Liam Rosenior insists the Tigers’ home game against Town, a match which he describes as his team’s cup final, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday is an advantage in the race for the final play-off places.
Moore: To Be in This Situation With Three Games to Go is UnbelievableKieffer Moore is excited about the next nine days that will see Town travel to Hull and Coventry in search of precious points before the season ends on Saturday week with Huddersfield the visitors on a day that could, depending on what happens between now and then, see the Blues hosting a second successive Portman Road promotion party.
McKenna: We Have Big Confidence in OurselvesTown boss Kieran McKenna says his team have “big confidence” in themselves going into Saturday evening’s visit to Hull City, the first of three games which will decide whether the Blues win automatic promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away (KO 8pm).
Moore: First Town Spell Paved the WayCurrent Town loanee Kieffer Moore has thanked Town for helping to develop and transform his career by taking a chance on him seven years ago when they signed him from Forest Green Rovers in a £25,000 deal.