Premier League clubs pushing for two-week delay to Project Restart as they eye June 26 date
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are increasingly pushing towards a June 26 restart. We revealed yesterday how June 12 was expected to be ditched, with many also believing staging games on June 19 could be too much of a rush. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates Now restarting the […]
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are increasingly pushing towards a June 26 restart.
We revealed yesterday how June 12 was expected to be ditched, with many also believing staging games on June 19 could be too much of a rush.
Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates
Now restarting the league on June 26 is a plan gathering momentum.
And clubs could rubber-stamp the date at a meeting on Thursday.
A senior Premier League source said: “The more you look at it, you realise we cannot start until the end of June.
“It is just too hasty to put games on any earlier.”
League chief executive Richard Masters had maintained the June 12 return date was “flexible” and could be moved.
A June 26 restart would also be welcomed by the PFA and managers, who want players to get a full month of contact training under their belts to avoid any injuries.
A third round of coronavirus testing will take place tomorrow.
After two rounds, there have been just eight positive tests from 996 players and staff.
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Clubs will gather again on Wednesday to begin their second phase of training, providing there are few positive tests in that third round.
And this means there could be full contact training from Thursday.
An unnamed Bournemouth player is one of two new cases discovered by the latest tests.
The player is said to be asymptomatic and feeling fine and will now self-isolate for seven days.
It comes after six positive tests in the first round.
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A Cherries statement said: “Following strict adherence of the Premier League’s return to training regulations, the club’s training ground remains a safe working environment for players and staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice a week.”
Two individuals from Hull have tested positive after 1,014 tests at all 24 Championship sides.
The duo are also both asymptomatic and feeling no ill-effects.