QPR chief appalled by return to action
HUDDERSFIELD Town’s Championship rivals QPR are ‘absolutely appalled’ at the decision for the competition to restart later this month and are ‘vehemently opposed’ to the planned schedule, says chief executive Lee Hoos.
The EFL have announced a provisional restart of the campaign for the weekend of June 20 subject to a ‘strict proviso’ that all safety requirements and Government guidance is met.
It is also reliant on clubs receiving clearance from their local authorities to stage matches at their home grounds.
The fixture schedule is yet to be officially confirmed, but the season is set to conclude with the play-off final on or around July 30.
Ten individuals from eight different Championship clubs were found to have coronavirus in the latest round of tests.
And QPR, who sit 13th and are six points from the play-offs with nine games left to play, aren’t happy.
Hoos said: “I am absolutely stunned by this announcement, as is our director of football Les Ferdinand and our manager Mark Warburton.
“Incredibly, there has been absolutely no consultation with individual clubs nor with the Championship doctors’ working group by the divisional representatives - or anyone else in the Football League regarding this matter.
“On top of that, we were only made aware of the statement 40 minutes before it was made public.
“Having spoken with Les and Mark, they share my views. We are vehemently opposed to this schedule.
“The players haven’t even returned to full-contact training at this moment and yet they are now expected to be in a position to play at a competitive level in just three weeks’ time.
“I have made our feelings known to the EFL and, having spoken with a number of CEOs at other Championship clubs, I am not a lone voice on this matter.
“We are absolutely appalled.”
EFL chair Rick Parry said: “We must stress that at this stage the date is only provisional and will only be confirmed once we have met all the requirements, as the health, safety and well-being of all participants, staff and supporters remains our top priority.
“Clearly completing the season in a safe manner is going to require a significant effort by all concerned and, whilst not unprecedented, it will need clubs to play a significant number of matches over a relatively short period of time.”