Championship duo still seeking many answers
THE Championship has seemingly been given the green light to return this week as part of the UK government’s steps towards easing its coronavirus lockdown measures.
Football has been on hold since the middle of March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but there has always been an appetite to resume the current campaign when safe to do so.
As part of the latest step in Boris Johnson’s plan to lift lockdown measures, elite sport in England could now be poised for a return behind closed doors at the beginning of June, but the picture in Wales isn’t quite as clear.
The Welsh Government has opted for more modest changes to measures on this side of the border, and there has so far been precious little clarity on what that will mean for Swansea City and Cardif City’s hopes of resuming their respective campaigns.
Here’s everything we know about the situation so far.
THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY
At the moment, there is confusion over whether Cardiff or Swansea will be allowed to resume matches under the terms of the current lockdown rules in Wales.
That immediately poses a threat to any hopes of bringing the Championship back.
The integrity of the competition, one of several key drivers behind those beating the drum for the season to be completed, would surely face another fresh challenge if two of the league’s clubs were unable to compete.
Swansea are understood to have already reached out to the Welsh Government in a bid to offer some clarity on what could happen next but have, at the time of writing, not yet received a response.
Cardiff are also aware of the situation, and may well follow suit depending on how things turn out.
WHAT HAS THE WELSH GOVERNMENT SAID?
Not a lot at this stage.
Yesterday saw an announcement from Jason Thomas, the Welsh Government’s director of culture, sport and tourism department, which said golf courses would be able to open up to members once again, but there has been little indication on plans to re-introduce sport at elite level.
A spokesperson for the Welsh government told WalesOnline: “Discussions are taking place with Sport Wales and the Welsh Sports Association to explore how all sports can resume safely for participants and spectators.
“These decisions will need to be taken when the conditions are right, and within the context of the Welsh legislation.”
The Welsh Government has so far declined to comment further.
WHAT HAS THE EFL SAID?
The EFL has not publicly addressed any of the potential issues surrounding the Championship’s return, and one source has stressed to WalesOnline that to do so ahead of today’s league meeting would amount to pure speculation.
There’s still a confidence that the league can resume, although that same source has admitted it would be difficult to proceed with any plans to restart the league without the participation of all 24 clubs.
For many of those on the footballing side of things, all roads lead back to the showdown EFL meeting this week.
However, the result of those talks could potentially be rendered irrelevant if the Welsh Government fails to give the green light.
WHAT IS LIKELY HAPPEN NEXT?
Good question – and almost every party involved is unable to really provide an answer at this stage.
Sources on this side of the border have told WalesOnline that they’re expecting their English counterparts to be given the green light this week to return to training, with a view to resuming action at the beginning of June.
Welsh clubs would perhaps technically be allowed to join them in going back to training under the current lockdown rules as it is a place of work, but it seems there would be little point in doing so if Welsh government rules still banned elite sporting events, even behind closed doors.
A source at Cardiff says the club are set to wait and see what comes out of today’s EFL meeting before pondering their next move, but there is seemingly enthusiasm from both clubs to finish the campaign.
Insiders at Swansea are already confident that their Fairwood training complex would be able to accommodate the social distancing measures currently required by law under Welsh guidelines.
Nevertheless, there will need to be some clarity in order to ease any lingering uncertainty.
With the Welsh Government not due to review their lockdown measures for another three weeks, a nationwide relaunch of elite sport in Wales seems some way off.
One suggestion is that Welsh clubs could perhaps be given special dispensation by the Welsh government to return to playing matches, although there’s no concrete evidence of that proposal currently being on the table at this stage.
However, if the season is to proceed under current guidelines on this side of the border, making an exception for our two biggest football clubs could well be the most likely solution.
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