Positive Hull tests as chief fires EFL warning
HULL have announced they are the Championship club that has two members of personnel with confirmed cases of coronavirus.
A total of 1,014 players and staff from all 24 second-tier clubs were tested over a 72-hour period, and the results reflect an almost identical ratio to those reported in the Premier League’s second wave of testing.
It was announced the two people were from the same club and Hull have now revealed it is them.
“Medical confidentiality means the names will not be disclosed, and the club asks for this to be respected,” a statement read.
“The duo, who are both asymptomatic and feeling no ill effects, will now self-isolate for seven days – in line with the protocols set out in EFL guidelines – before being tested again at a later date.
“The club will continue to liaise closely with the affected personnel and will make no further comment.”
The EFL had earlier released the results of the tests as the Championship looks to resume the season.
In a statement the EFL said: “Those players or club staff who have tested positive will now selfisolate in line with the guidelines provided by the EFL and only those who have tested negative will be permitted to enter training ground facilities.
“The EFL will continue to make regular and relevant announcements as appropriate in respect of the testing programme to support competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the league.”
The results will encourage those who wish to see a resumption of
Rick Parry warned of a £200m hole the season next month, with talks ongoing between officials in the Championship and League One.
Earlier yesterday, Bournemouth revealed one of their players was among the two positive tests recorded in the latest 996 tests on Premier League players and staff.
Although all positive tests are announced anonymously, Bournemouth took the step of revealing they were one of the two top-flight clubs affected.
A statement read: “Medical confidentiality means the player’s name will not be disclosed and the club asks for this to be respected.
“In line with Premier League protocols regarding positive tests, he will self-isolate for seven days before being tested again at a later date.
“Following strict adherence of the Premier League’s return-totraining regulations, the club’s training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week.”
Former FA chief executive Mark Palios has warned EFL clubs the financial impact of the pandemic could be even greater than the £200 million blow first feared.
EFL chairman Rick Parry estimated the cost of the shutdown earlier this month but Palios, also chairman of League One Tranmere, believes the sum will continue to grow.
He warned: “Whilst you may look at the ‘hole’ which has been articulated as £200 million to September, I think it’s bigger than that.
“There is a real financial maelstrom coming towards the league. I believe we haven’t seen the worst of it yet and, during the summer, you’ll see a lot more financial stress on the clubs as we move on and continue to pay wages.
“I think what you’ll see is a lot of clubs will stumble down the road to insolvency. You might see people getting high court orders against them. They’ll bumble on for a period of time.”
One senior Championship figure has also revealed a number of clubs are unhappy about footing bills that could exceed £500,000 per club.
In last week’s meeting, it was flagged up that regular testing will cost between £150,000-£200,000 per club and they will also have to pay for hotels for players and staff to be quarantined in while the campaign is completed.
The source said: “Now the thinking is that if English football follows the German model, where staff are housed in a hotel for six or seven weeks while the season comes to an end, that could generate an enormous bill.
“We would be shelling out upwards of £50k a week. When that’s added to the cost of testing, and everyone assumes clubs are going to be paying for that as well, you’re talking over £500k.
“If you’ve got no real interest in either end of the table, why go to all the trouble? It’s an unnecessary outlay at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty about.”