‘BLADES PROS ARE READY TO RETURN’

ultimately, pay the bills. This will include commentators, touchline reporters and riggers, electricians and technicians.

There is space for the written media – up to 25 from newspapers, plus radio – who will all be told to arrive an hour before kick-off, taken straight to their seats and press conferences will be conducted via Zoom.

And the Matchday Operations Plan includes strict restrictions on who can go where, as the tunnel area will be deemed a “red zone” to try and limit who is near the players to reduce the risk.

Many clubs will fill the empty seats with banners for

players per club in the squad and two on standby) Tunnel will be a

to limit access

their own team and also slogans supporting the NHS.

The empty spaces will allow TV channels to post cameras in different places plus there is a push for halftime interviews and dressing room access – but the clubs have had resistance from managers and players.

One of the biggest obstacles is how to overcome getting to away games.

Clubs are being urged to use private planes as they can be easier to clean than coaches and better for social distancing than trains, but there are no hotels to stay in and travel will be on the day.

It will be Premier League – but with some difference.

press officers from each club would also be present members of medical and coaching staff

doping control

officers

off-site staff from host broadcaster directors and executives

from both clubs

staff inside the stadium from the host broadcaster

BEN OSBORN claims “more professional” clubs like Sheffield United have been punished as other sides need longer to prepare for football’s return.

The Blades star, 25, (right) says Chris Wilder’s men could have returned to action sooner than their first game back against Aston Villa on June 17 as they have trained hard in lockdown.

He said the Blades have only had one week off since football shutdown nearly three months ago. “I don’t know why the more professional clubs should be punished and have to delay it even longer for just doing what pro footballers should do, just getting themselves ready for a game and keeping fit,” he said.

“I can’t speak for other clubs, but in lockdown we were keeping fit. We had tough schedules to stick to and as soon as clubs were allowed back in the training ground, we were back in.”