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O'Neill: I Can't See Football Returning in Front of Crowds for a Long Time
Wednesday, 15th Apr 2020 14:16

Town general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill says he doesn’t expect football in front of crowds to return for a long time yet.

As things stand, fixtures are suspended indefinitely but with the EFL having told clubs to aim to get their players back for May 16th ahead of a mini-pre-season in preparation for the season’s resumption behind closed doors, reportedly on June 6th.

However, with the Government expected to announce an extension to the current lockdown restrictions, O’Neill is anticipating a long wait for football to return to normal.

“The governing bodies have got a big challenge on their hands to plot a way forward for football,” O’Neill told the club site.

“There are regular meetings going on to find the best possible solutions for all clubs, in all divisions.

“The guidance will come from the Government obviously but when you look at the other events around the world that have been cancelled, and not just sports events, I can’t see football returning in front of crowds for a long time.

“Until the virus is under control and the safe distancing protocol and the ban on mass gatherings has been lifted, it’s not going to happen.

“Football will return for sure but when it comes back it maybe not as we know it and be very different to what we all want it to be.”"


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Theonlywayisup added 14:41 - Apr 15
Do we really need to create news when it's so obvious!!
0

SitfcB added 14:41 - Apr 15
Him and Lambert keep talking for the sake of talking....

Bore off.
-7

Bergholt_Blue added 14:44 - Apr 15
Just void the season see everyone in the new season
-1

Mercian added 14:45 - Apr 15
He's right. I think it will next year. The disease will probably ease during the Summer but could well return with a vengeance in the Autumn. Anyone who thinks next season is going to go without incident is being overly optimistic. Either the 19/20 or 20/21 season IMO is going to have to be written off, which is for the football authorities to decide. I would prefer 20/21.
3

Theonlywayisup added 14:46 - Apr 15
I quite agree with you......void it and worry about things much more important in these trying times. Don't understand the downvote but nevermind.
1

blues1 added 15:03 - Apr 15
Why do people think voiding this season is the thing to do? If they did, thered be no football for god knows how long, with clubs taking court action against the efl pl, and the f.a. By the time all those cases were finished could be 2 years down the line. This season has to be finished, whenever that happens. What happens after that is up for negotiation.
2

Theonlywayisup added 15:25 - Apr 15
Wouldn't be very classy for clubs to take court action imho.

A world crisis not seen for 100 years I would like to think clubs could put money and glory aside and accept it won't finish for the greater good of the world.

Then when it is safe to do so start the 2020/21 campaign.
3

hoppy added 15:47 - Apr 15
"Until the virus is under control and the safe distancing protocol and the ban on mass gatherings has been lifted, it's not going to happen."

Surely that should apply to not playing games even behind closed doors, as the players would all be well within 2 metres of each other - think of corners etc, where you get almost all 22 of them crowding in with each other? Are they somehow immune from that?
5

JDAndCoke added 15:52 - Apr 15
Why do people moan about LO'N and PL doing interviews. Yes they're saying generic stuff and not adding much that we don't all already know but they can't win as people will moan if they're also hearing nothing from the club. It's simply a continued dialogue to tell our fans what our club are doing. Nothing new but at least it comes from inside the club and not the wider media.

Also no chance the season will be voided. Yes these are unprecedented events and the world will take a long time to get back to normal but if you're the owner of Leeds/WBA for example and £90+ million is on the way, you're hardly going to wave goodbye to it willingly
3

Mercian added 16:21 - Apr 15
Too bad for the football clubs, they should take it on the chin. With a possible 30% hit to the economy there will be far more serious issues than where Leeds will be playing this season.
3

dukey44 added 16:24 - Apr 15
Theonlywayisup sorry meant to give u a yes😁
1

blues1 added 16:35 - Apr 15
The only way is up. Dont think you'll find court cases would be purely about the money. Think liverpool would be contesting the fact they would be robbed of the league title. Leeds/west Brom, of getting to the pl, plus those teams in play offs, or those who could still get to play offs. Same in lge1/2. Even we, could technically contend that we not out of the play off picture and take action. Of course these are rxceptional circumstances, but everyone, football clubs have to look forwards to getting back to normality. And being told their whole seasons efforts have been for nothing, wouldnt sit well, I dont think.
1

jas0999 added 16:48 - Apr 15
Voiding the current season is not the answer. Okay, wouldn't impact us as very little to play for - but there is still much at stake for many clubs around the leagues. We have to find a way to conclude the season.
0

madasbadgers added 17:26 - Apr 15
I can't really see how you can play behind closed doors to self isolation is over. As Hoppy says as well as players being in close proximity, not only on the pitch, also in dressing room. This would include medical staff, off field staff, massage etc. Although no fans you'd still need a medical presence for serious injury. Nationwide that would take quite a toll on medical services. Football isn't an essential service and I'd rather have all of them on the frontline. Additionally, officials move around the country, how many people could a referee infect for example.
3

therein61 added 17:33 - Apr 15
Although i really miss my football we cannot look past saving lives we as a country are not helped by the government spin(this is not a manifesto it's real peoples lives) giving forecasts about ending(or not) lockdown when we have now at last some of the true death figures(nursing homes etc) that they have kept under the radar, just tell us the truth then we can have some idea of when(including football) our lives will return to normal.
Stay safe all.
-1

jong75 added 17:57 - Apr 15
If the season is stopped now, which would be hugely understandable, i think teams at the top of their league should be awarded the title, teams in promotion slots should be promoted but no relegation. The leagues to then re-balance over the next 2/3 seasons.
2

Blue041273 added 18:04 - Apr 15
Although there will be a relaxation of the lockdown measures at some stage this will only happen when the NHS can safely deal with a reduced number of hospital admissions. The lifting of restrictions on mass gatherings is a long way off and ‘behind closed doors' games may not be permitted. This virus will not be going away any time soon and until a vaccine is developed or a viable antibody test is created anyone who has not yet contracted the virus will be vulnerable. The players have been kept in lockdown and sometimes in isolation for the duration of the epidemic! Are the clubs likely to expose their players to the virus just in a vanity project to artificially complete the current season?
3

ITFCsince73 added 18:30 - Apr 15
Jong I think Fulham might be against your idea, although it sounds one of the fairest I've heard.
Even when/if the season does restart, in some ways it'll feel like a different season.
Players that were out for the season injured, now looking to return for a re start.
Imo even behind closed doors won't happen till earliest Autumn.
0

jong75 added 18:41 - Apr 15
ITFCsince73 - no scheme would be perfect, so for example top 2 in championship to go up and then current third go up as play off winners. So Fulham would love it. Brentford and the other play off teams not so much.
0

PSGBlue added 21:18 - Apr 15
I agree that just get this season finished, albeit behind closed doors. But to start a new season behind closed doors is ridiculous, what is the point of playing matches if none of us fans can actually watch it.

I would prefer to wait until matches can go ahead with fans in the stadium, even if that means not restarting until early next year.
0

dirtydingusmagee added 14:46 - Apr 16
just have penalty shootouts all eleven take a pen get it over and done with, and on plus side we may get more than one goal per ''match'' , social distancing no prob lol. I REALLY DONT CARE ANYMORE .
1

alfromcol added 21:53 - Apr 16
Suggestion: For each game still to be played, spin a coin. 3pts for a correct call? Social distancing not a problem, players don't have to travel to games, no medical staff required, no off-field staff required etc. etc.

Stupid idea I hear you say. But so is any idea of playing these outstanding games while the virus is very much alive in the population.
1


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