EFL: Championship club hopes for the return to training after government approval

EFL Conference Meeting: Championship Club aims for the return to training

Championship clubs hoping to get government clearance for a 25 May to come back to regular training, within plans to resume the 2019-20 season.

It's understood a target restart of 6 June has been discussed but clubs still anticipate a much more likely 13 June date, following the Premier League.

All 24 clubs held a meeting called on Wednesday, after an EFL board meeting

League One and Two clubs will speak on Friday, once the prospect of ending the summer season seems certain to go closer.

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The master plan for the Championship continues to be to accomplish the summer season, thereby avoiding avoid a possible legal minefield around promotion and relegation if the campaign ends early nevertheless the Premier League plays to a conclusion.

BBC Radio Manchester has acquired a copy of the EFL's'come back to training'draft protocols, which are based around current government guidelines for Covid-19 protocols.

These requirements are much like those of the Premier League, around disinfecting football equipment, keeping communal regions of working out ground such as gyms and changing rooms closed, and no tackling or contact sessions.

• Clubs must appoint a specialist Covid-19 officer, and draft an operational policy which players and staff must sign
• Twice weekly coronavirus antibody tests and temperature screening protocols for players and staff - a confident test means working out group self isolates for 14 days
• Players must arrive already changed and provide their particular drinks
• No'manual therapy treatment' such as massages. Only essential medical treatment allowed with minimum staffing and provision of personal protection equipment
• All tactical sessions and session planning that doesn't require physical presence should be performed by tele/video conference
• Training will soon be phased, small groups right through to full squad sessions. Each training group allocated one pitch, and a maximum of five per group, plus three staff.
•  Seventy-five minutes per training session. Half an hour'gap between each training group session
• No tackling, opposed activities of any sort or congested training are allowed
• Clubs can offer takeaway food choices for players

An EFL statement, released following Wednesday's board meeting, pointed to a have to acknowledge the financial shortfall that could accompany the overall game restarting behind closed doors.

Whilst the resumption of competition would satisfy commitments to broadcasters, the expenses linked to meeting hygiene and testing protocols, in addition to deficiencies in regular matchday income, need to be taken into account.

"The EFL will continue steadily to undertake consultation with these members before the following steps are determined," the statement read.

"Current attention is obviously on the immediate next steps, nevertheless the long-term effect the league and its clubs remain as stark as previously outlined, and solutions continue to be needed to fill the financial hole left by the crisis.
 The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic won't be rectified by simply a come back to play behind closed doors.

"Additionally, the EFL is mindful of the pressing importance of clarity in numerous areas, such as the practicalities and timeframes of clubs to be able to facilitate a come back to training.

 To handle this, clubs have today been issued with the most recent draft of the EFL's'come back to training protocols ', so that they'll prepare appropriately.

"However, until all outstanding matters are concluded, including finalizing a thorough testing program on matchdays and non-matchdays, the EFL board has informed its clubs that a come back to training shouldn't take place until 25 May at the earliest."