Clubs to discuss training protocols before restart

Premier League clubs will discuss contact training protocols next week before any season restart date can be agreed, the competition’s chief executive Richard Masters has said.

Step one of the return to training protocols were unanimously approved by clubs yesterday. At this stage, players must practise social distancing at all times.

Players and managers, including Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, have insisted adequate time must be factored in between the resumption of regular contact training and any season start date.

Masters says the widely reported start date of June 12 has only ever been a “staging post” and a more definitive restart date can be set only once contact training protocols have been approved.

“June 12 was a staging post; it wasn’t a firm commitment and what we don’t want to do is continue to move it around,” he said.

“We know there’s a discussion to be had, it really depends on when we can start full contact training and we have a process to go through before we can get to that stage. Of course we’ve got to be flexible.

“Next week we are going to be discussing full contact training protocols for that. Once you know when you can start full contact training, and we have had a proper discussion with clubs about how much is required to create the fitness levels before they can start playing, we are then in a position to be able to confirm when the season start is.”

Testing for coronavirus at topflight clubs has taken place over the last two days, and will continue throughout the training period and the return to match action in a bid to make the environment as safe as possible for all concerned.

The first step requires training to last for no more than 75 minutes for any single player, and with groups of a maximum of five players.

Players will be asked to leave three parking spaces between their vehicle and any other at the training ground, and arrive wearing kit. There will be no access to communal areas such as canteens.

All equipment will be disinfected by club staff wearing personal protective equipment and players must wear face coverings.

An app will be used for players to provide daily updates on their condition.