Blues general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill says he’d prefer to see the season resumed and completed later in the year rather than any alternative option.

As things stand, the Premier League and EFL have been suspended until April 3rd but with the expectation the hiatus will probably be significantly longer.

UEFA will meet tomorrow to discuss the postponement of Euro 2020, as well as the future of the Champions League and Europa League, while the EFL and Premier League are also set to hold further talks regarding the situation.

There has been increasing speculation that the current campaign will be cancelled and declared void, however, O'Neill would like to see it continued at a later date.

“I think the season to be resumed as and when it safe to do so is my preferred option and I would think most supporters and clubs would see it that way,” O’Neill told the club site.

“There so many different factors that have to go into the equation though when we are talking about the different scenarios from a football point of view, a business point of view and a global point of view.

“It’s unknown territory for everyone. If you look at ending the season now, what would happen with promotion, relegation, the cups?

“For me, the easiest solution would be to pause the season and resume when it’s right to do so.

“The hardest thing to determine of course is how long that might take. No one knows that and that presents challenges.”

Town are currently 10th in League One with eight games left to play and are still in with a chance of making the play-offs despite being bottom of the form table on the last nine games.

As previously reported, the squad were given 10 days off after the EFL confirmed the suspension of fixtures on Friday. They are due to return on Tuesday 24th March.

Injured players are continuing to work with physios at Playford Road, although staffing numbers at the training ground are being kept to a minimum. Academy scholars are on a reduced timetable.

Office staff are largely continuing to work normally, while no one at the club is understood to have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Portman Road and Playford Road were both deep-cleaned over the course of the weekend.

Photo: TWTD

PortmanTerrorist added 14:29 - Mar 17 If he is right it will be interesting to see if people have completely lost faith and interest in the season and stay away, or if they so desperate for live sport that they show up in numbers again. Either way, who cares! Everyone stay safe. ITFC will survive so let's take care of each other and sort our Club out later.
0

braveblue added 15:47 - Mar 17 This season will be cancelled I think. Games will not be safe for at least three months, probably much more.
0

therein61 added 16:11 - Mar 17 Keep safe and well NSV and all you fellow posters and your families
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls