Sky Blues al-ryt to open doors at training ground
LEAGUE One clubs will not return to training yet, but Coventry City can open up their Ryton-on-dunsmore training centre to players for individual sessions from today.
That is the official line from the EFL who on Friday handed the Sky Blues a seven-point guide explaining exactly how they can return their players can to training safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
That dossier, entitled ‘The EFL’S return to training protocol,’ advises the club’s medical staff exactly who they can ensure the risk of contracting the virus while preparing for the return of football is minimised.
But the Sky Blues will not return to training – the playing staff are still on furlough and will not be lifted out of that scheme any time soon.
Championship clubs, meanwhile, can return to training today in “small groups” after hundreds of Championship players and staff will be tested this week. The results of those tests are set to be published on Sunday.
The EFL have said: “Please note that there is currently no testing programme underway with clubs in League One and League Two.
“As a result, small group training is not permitted to commence on May 25 but, if required, clubs in League One and League Two can make their training ground pitches available for individual socially-distanced training sessions, adhering to all the relevant Government guidance and RTT protocols.
“The provisions are in place with nationwide pathology to extend the testing programme into League One and League Two as required, depending on the final outcome of the season curtailment discussions.”
Professional sport has nudged a further step closer to a resumption after the government published ‘stage two’ of its guidance which enables competitive and close-contact training.
The guidance, published in conjunction with public health officials and sports medical officers, allows for organised, close-contact training, under carefully controlled medical conditions.
The advice is geared towards establishing the conditions for stage three of the process, which is expected to be achieved next month with a resumption of sports, including Premier League matches, behind closed doors.
The guidance makes it clear that the close contact training for elite athletes can include close quarters coaching and tackling so that players can get match fit.
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