Earliest Date Bristol City Can Return to Taining

EFL confirm earliest date Bristol City can return to training
The EFL met with clubs on Wednesday to discuss plans to resume the season

The EFL say clubs will not return to training until May 25 "at the earliest".

Reports surfaced suggesting the Championship could begin playing again as early as June 6. However, that now seems highly unlikely with the EFL confirming to its clubs there should be no return to training until at least May 25.

The Athletic report that the targeted date at present is June 13, in line with the Premier League's intended resumption but a number of hurdles need to be crossed, with testing a major priority.

Clubs will receive details in the coming days around the financial cost of testing and how to social distance at training grounds.

The consensus from head coaches and managers has been they want at least three weeks to work with their squads from when they return to matchdays.

Bristol City players have not returned to Failand since the first week of the lockdown in mid-March, with Lee Johnson distributing daily fitness programmes and delivering tactical webinars and decision-making sessions.

A statement following Wednesday's meeting with clubs read: "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.

"To address this, Clubs have today been issued with the latest draft of the EFL’s ‘Return to Training Protocols’, so that they can prepare appropriately.

However, until all outstanding matters are concluded, including finalising a comprehensive testing programme on matchdays and non-matchdays, the EFL Board has informed its Clubs that a return to training should not take place until 25 May at the earliest.
"Dialogue continues with our colleagues across the footballing and political landscape regarding these and other issues, and the EFL is committed to keeping all relevant parties updated on key decisions and developments as they occur."

As part of the ongoing discussions, the EFL say solutions must be sought to fix financial issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. And they warned returning behind closed doors would not 'simply' rectify those financial challenges.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire warned on Wednesday that the Championship's overspending on wages has left the league in a "high risk" situation with owners now required to cover the mounting losses as revenues have totally dried up.

"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 statement added.

"The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic will not be rectified simply by a return to play behind closed doors."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/efl-confirm-earliest-date-bristol-4131628