Rovers decide against trying to host pilot event

BRISTOL Rovers have decided against applying to host a pilot event this weekend for 1,000 supporters, the Bristol Post understands.

BBC Sport reports clubs were contacted by league bosses yesterday morning to ask if they were interested in staging a trial event at their league games on Saturday. Rovers host Ipswich Town at the Memorial Stadium this weekend, but a decision has been made internally that the timeframe given by the EFL isn’t long enough to get organised in terms of meeting Covid-19 regulations.

There is also the fact that in even making the application there are no guarantees they will be selected.

The EFL’s head of policy John Nagle, in a letter obtained by the BBC, told member clubs: “We cannot guarantee at this stage that all clubs that would like to stage a pilot will be given permission to do so, as only a limited number will be approved.

“We are still in discussions with regard to pilot matches on other dates.” He also apologised for the late notice, which was due to being “very much in the Government’s hands on this one”.

A test event was planned for Cambridge United’s League Two game with Carlisle United on September 12, with a crowd of 2,000 set to attend, but the pilot was aborted following a national increase of coronavirus cases which forced a change in regulations. Cambridge had previously hosted 1,000 fans for their EFL Trophy game against Fulham under-21s on September 8.

An EFL spokesman confirmed it remains in talks with the Government about its pilot programme which “may include a limited number of further pilot matches during September with capacity limited to 1,000”.