| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) 22:06 - May 13 with 935 views | MaySixth |
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| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:14 - May 13 with 915 views | MaySixth |
The Football League has outlined its ambition to restart the 2019-20 Championship campaign on June 12 and play the season to a conclusion.
At a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, a majority of second-tier clubs pledged their commitment to respecting promotion and relegation, and doing everything within their power to fulfil every fixture.
Inside the meeting, it is understood that a handful of clubs with “vested interests” irritated their divisional rivals by highlighting the many obstacles that could curtail the season. A vote did not take place but the consensus was that a poll would have led to calls to finish the campaign. It is understood that clubs towards the lower end of the table are those most in favour of curtailment.
Some Championship clubs had originally hoped to restart training as early as Saturday, with a few more eyeing Monday, yet this has now been delayed as the teams are yet to begin the initial testing phase rolled out by the Premier League this week. The aspiration now is to begin training on May 25 and, remarkably, relaunch the campaign within three weeks on June 12 – in alignment with the Premier League.
However, several coaching teams have concerns over this short turnaround, particularly as initial training will require an element of social distancing. Some had also been hoping for a long period of full-contact training before demanding their players return to competitive matches. Clubs are also still to be informed of the full cost of the testing and other requirements.
Some foreign players at Championship clubs are yet to even return to the country after being given permission to return home before lockdown. Upon returning to the UK, they will be expected to isolate for a 14-day period before returning to work.
In the meeting, talk did not linger on curtailment or how the season would be resolved if fixtures were not fulfilled. Any clubs who raised these issues were encouraged to adopt a “can-do attitude” to get the season up and running again.
It is, however, privately recognised that the pandemic may supersede the wishes of Championship clubs and overwhelm their resources. If the Championship is curtailed at this stage, the division is at least helped by the fact every club has played exactly 37 games, although this would mean an imbalance of home and away fixtures.
One club source said: “The sentiment is to crack on. If we don’t finish this season, how the hell can we start the next one?”
Clubs will shortly receive a document to outline the potential cost of testing, along with the adjustments necessary for social distancing at training grounds, which may also require Championship clubs to hire hotels in the event a team needs to be quarantined.
A Championship coach said: “We need clarity on how many cases of COVID-19 in a team would mean a game is called off. And since goalkeepers tend to train in groups, what if two or three goalkeepers are positive and we do not have the academy training? We need clarity.”
Behind the scenes, clubs are already preparing for an almighty battle in case the season is called off – particularly at the foot of the Championship table. Charlton would currently be relegated under a points-per-game model but only three points separate Lee Bowyer’s side in 22nd from Stoke City in 17th position. Another concern is that every game-week becomes like a final, since the league could be stopped at any point and points per game applied to decide placings.
At the top of the league, the positions of Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion appear ever stronger, as Championship clubs are committed to promoting sides. There is support across the three EFL divisions for promotion to be respected. In addition, few clubs in the Premier League are advocating a relegation-free season.
As revealed by The Athletic last week, League One and League Two are expected to be abandoned, with clubs expected to be given a vote on how to decide placings, relegation and promotion.
An EFL statement on Wednesday night read: “Current attention is clearly on the immediate next steps, but the long-term impact on the League and its clubs remains as stark as previously outlined, and solutions are still required to fill the financial hole left by the crisis. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors.
“In addition, the EFL is mindful of the pressing need for clarity in a number of areas, including the practicalities and timeframes of clubs being able to facilitate a return to training.” | |
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| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:25 - May 13 with 874 views | EastTownBlue |
| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:14 - May 13 by MaySixth |
The Football League has outlined its ambition to restart the 2019-20 Championship campaign on June 12 and play the season to a conclusion.
At a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, a majority of second-tier clubs pledged their commitment to respecting promotion and relegation, and doing everything within their power to fulfil every fixture.
Inside the meeting, it is understood that a handful of clubs with “vested interests” irritated their divisional rivals by highlighting the many obstacles that could curtail the season. A vote did not take place but the consensus was that a poll would have led to calls to finish the campaign. It is understood that clubs towards the lower end of the table are those most in favour of curtailment.
Some Championship clubs had originally hoped to restart training as early as Saturday, with a few more eyeing Monday, yet this has now been delayed as the teams are yet to begin the initial testing phase rolled out by the Premier League this week. The aspiration now is to begin training on May 25 and, remarkably, relaunch the campaign within three weeks on June 12 – in alignment with the Premier League.
However, several coaching teams have concerns over this short turnaround, particularly as initial training will require an element of social distancing. Some had also been hoping for a long period of full-contact training before demanding their players return to competitive matches. Clubs are also still to be informed of the full cost of the testing and other requirements.
Some foreign players at Championship clubs are yet to even return to the country after being given permission to return home before lockdown. Upon returning to the UK, they will be expected to isolate for a 14-day period before returning to work.
In the meeting, talk did not linger on curtailment or how the season would be resolved if fixtures were not fulfilled. Any clubs who raised these issues were encouraged to adopt a “can-do attitude” to get the season up and running again.
It is, however, privately recognised that the pandemic may supersede the wishes of Championship clubs and overwhelm their resources. If the Championship is curtailed at this stage, the division is at least helped by the fact every club has played exactly 37 games, although this would mean an imbalance of home and away fixtures.
One club source said: “The sentiment is to crack on. If we don’t finish this season, how the hell can we start the next one?”
Clubs will shortly receive a document to outline the potential cost of testing, along with the adjustments necessary for social distancing at training grounds, which may also require Championship clubs to hire hotels in the event a team needs to be quarantined.
A Championship coach said: “We need clarity on how many cases of COVID-19 in a team would mean a game is called off. And since goalkeepers tend to train in groups, what if two or three goalkeepers are positive and we do not have the academy training? We need clarity.”
Behind the scenes, clubs are already preparing for an almighty battle in case the season is called off – particularly at the foot of the Championship table. Charlton would currently be relegated under a points-per-game model but only three points separate Lee Bowyer’s side in 22nd from Stoke City in 17th position. Another concern is that every game-week becomes like a final, since the league could be stopped at any point and points per game applied to decide placings.
At the top of the league, the positions of Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion appear ever stronger, as Championship clubs are committed to promoting sides. There is support across the three EFL divisions for promotion to be respected. In addition, few clubs in the Premier League are advocating a relegation-free season.
As revealed by The Athletic last week, League One and League Two are expected to be abandoned, with clubs expected to be given a vote on how to decide placings, relegation and promotion.
An EFL statement on Wednesday night read: “Current attention is clearly on the immediate next steps, but the long-term impact on the League and its clubs remains as stark as previously outlined, and solutions are still required to fill the financial hole left by the crisis. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors.
“In addition, the EFL is mindful of the pressing need for clarity in a number of areas, including the practicalities and timeframes of clubs being able to facilitate a return to training.” |
Where has this been copied from ? |  | | |
| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:29 - May 13 with 867 views | GeoffSentence |
This will be a big disappointment to the Nodgers, now they will have to find some other convoluted reason why they should not be relegated. |  |
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| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:40 - May 13 with 832 views | ronnyd |
| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:25 - May 13 by EastTownBlue |
Where has this been copied from ? |
Third paragraph from the bottom mentions The Athletic. | | | |
| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:45 - May 13 with 819 views | Pendejo |
| The Championship is restarting on June 12th (n/t) on 22:29 - May 13 by GeoffSentence |
This will be a big disappointment to the Nodgers, now they will have to find some other convoluted reason why they should not be relegated. |
It's being done specifically spite them, imagine how Darragh would respond |  |
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