Ex-Terriers boss calling for ‘Festival of Football’

FORMER Town boss Steve Bruce has called for a ‘Festival of Football’ with games every day to help get the season completed when it is safe to play again following the coronavirus pandemic.

Professional football in England will not resume until April 30 at the earliest – but with the country currently in lockdown that appears a very optimistic target date.

Bruce’s Newcastle are 13th in the Premier League, with nine games left to play and also through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they are set to host holders Manchester City.

The Magpies boss accepts football must not consider a return ‘until it is absolutely safe to do so’, but clubs should be ready to hit the ground running.

“We have to try and get this season finished, whatever that takes, everybody wants that – but we must also remember that the health and safety of players and staff is far more important than football,” Bruce said.

“We should not return to training until it is absolutely safe to do so.

“We can have a ‘Festival of Football’ month, games every day, teams playing two or three games a week.

“It is not ideal, but if we can play 10 to 15 games in December and the start of January, we can do it to get this season finished.

“It probably means the start of next season will be delayed, we will probably have to scrap one of the cup competitions and do without a winter break, but it can be done.

“Whatever, however, we will find a way.”