Chief Executive Officer Jim Rodwell today issued the following statement on behalf of Sunderland AFC to update supporters and stakeholders about the club’s position with regards to the completion of the 2019-20 season. From the moment the campaign was suspended in March, the EFL board has stated that any remaining fixtures should be played once it is safe and practical to do so, thus retaining the integrity of the competition. There was a time when that looked like it would not be possible, but recent developments have ensured that the season can be completed within the initial timeframe set by the EFL. Several League One clubs have taken the stance that no further games should be played, and that a currently undetermined formula should be applied to finalise the league table. SAFC strongly disagree with this view and remain committed to completing the season the right way. We believe that any league placings should be determined by what happens on the pitch, not in a meeting room and most certainly not in a courtroom. As a club, we entered the league to determine the best team over 46 games, not 37. That is the premise with which season cards, player contracts and partnerships are agreed. It is unfortunate that supporters are extremely unlikely to be able to attend our remaining fixtures, but the streaming infrastructure in place at all EFL clubs ensures that we are in a position to fulfil any obligations, both moral and contractual, to our stakeholders. Like all League One clubs, we therefore have a duty to do so. We are committed to streaming our remaining home matches free to all season card holders and this would be extended if the 2020-21 season starts behind closed doors. Fulfilling our remaining fixtures will come at considerable cost, but it sets a deeply concerning precedent for professional football clubs to decide against completing competitions that they have entered because they don’t feel like doing so. Neither fixtures being suspended for public health reasons or matches being played behind closed doors are novel scenarios, but both have happened in the past without clubs opting against fulfilling fixtures and altering competition rules. The framework for next season is yet to be determined and all clubs will be in a position to contribute to what is put in place, but this season’s rules and regulations are set in stone and all clubs agreed to them before a ball was kicked. We are determined to ensure that players, staff and supporters are afforded the opportunity to see the hard work, sacrifice and loyalty of the past nine months rewarded. The EFL is a professional league and it now needs to demonstrate the professionalism and obligation that comes with its historic status. https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2020/may/club-statement-20-may-2020
It’s either play the games, or void the whole season. No promotions or relegations!! only fair ways!! Bart PS - think Danny Rose is acting like a pussy!! He should feckin grow a pair!!
Think it's an awful statement to be honest very petty I can absolutely see why we want to play on but Claiming other clubs won't play on because "they don't feel like doing so" Banging on about the integrity of the league. can bet they wouldn't have made the statement if we were top two Integrity would be out of the window and they'd be desperate to end the season There is a bigger picture going on here people are dieing Clubs are financially in the **** a number are likely to go to the wall By all means argue the case to continue the season But a lot of that statement doesn't sit well with me
Almost as if someone had written a perfectly good statement then someone said “Put in a bit about them not being arsed!” which would be fine for say, RTG but embarrassing for a public statement leading up to negotiations.
As a Sunderland supporter, and if particularly cared, I would feel a bit uncomfortable with that statement.
I agree with the first bit of your post but the bit about Danny rose has knocked me a bit, the lad is only looking after himself and to be honest if I was asked to go back to work where I’m in contact with other people who are for a lot of the time during 90 mins spitting, blowing down their nostrils and then possibly touching me, I would feel the same. I’m back to work next week but only because I’m not in close contact with anyone who I work with.
Millions of office workers with shared air-con have been working throughout this fiasco for a pittance of his pay with no testing. When they enter the park, they are certain that not a single person on the open air arena has the virus. Rose l, last few years, just likes saying something, anything, to get his 5 mins in.
It’s not just him though is it, the Watford captain has said the same. Surely it should be up to the worker wether they go to work after all it’s their life that’s at risk. Maybe those millions of office workers you mentioned should take a leaf out of his book and say something as I would if I was sharing air con with others, that’s not me being a pussy it’s me being sensible and thinking of me, my family and the nhs
And the clubs and leagues have stated that players who don’t feel comfortable returning will have their rights respected, they’ve repeated this. Deeney gave absolute clarity to his reasons, and had nothing but support. Office workers haven’t had that choice, or any other ‘key worker’ for that matter. If they refuse to work other than for enforced self isolation, they will get fired. I was office working until 3 weeks ago. My alternative was to default on my mortgage and become a statistic.
There’s a lot of people who helped to get this country through all of this and I’ve no doubt that office workers like yourself have really helped. Surely though the company knew that air con could quite possibly be a catastrophe waiting to happen. Back to rose I don’t think he was doing it for his “5 mins” the lad has mental problems and he’s not happy with how the powers of be are telling him what to do. I just feel that it’s up to him and not some pen pushers
You can’t run a building with hundreds of people in without air-con mate, the things floating about in a confined space, even without a virus, would lead to mass illness. It’s there for a reason, temperature control is a small part of it. As I’ve said in Rose, he has that option, and as I understand he is the only Newcastle first team member who didn't want to go back. We will find out if he did. I am aware of his past mental health issues and kudos to the lad for speaking out, but referring to an almost clinically prepared return to work as being a ‘lab rat’ is absolutely sensationalism. Deeney spoke openly and from the heart and came across absolutely bang on the money. I’m sure that we’ll hear from Rose again if Newcastle refuses to pay his £85,000 per week if he opts out of returning, but that’s speculation. They would pay him regardless.
It was a stupid thing for him to say I agree but I’ve said loads of daft things that I shouldn’t have said so I can’t really pull him up on that, it’ll be interesting to see what would happen at Newcastle. For the record if I was a footballer atm I wouldn’t be going anywhere near other footballers on a pitch or training for that matter. I go back to work next week and have warned the boss that he must do everything for me to be safe or I won’t be in long. My health/my family is more important than anything in this world. Stay safe mate if your still at work
You too mate. I’m from home for foreseeable but I’m on the other side, I’m all for ramping up of the return to normality, I’d be comfortable going back in if required. Like you say, each has their own view, and for all I’d debate it, I wouldn’t argue or discount anyone else’s viewpoint. There’s nobody safer than pro sportsmen right now, the only people with blanket testing of every single person that they will encounter at work.
