Struber threatens to cancel training if he feels Barnsley players are not safe
BARNSLEY head coach Gerhard Struber has stressed that he will have no hesitation in cancelling training if he feels his players and staff are not safe.
The Austrian has revealed that he will not wait for guidance from the Government or English Football League – and is prepared to take a unilateral decision to put their health and well being first.
Along with fellow Championship clubs, Barnsley are due to return to small-scale non-contact training in limited groups on Monday – following all health and safety protocols from the league.
The Reds chief says that his players will train in five groups of five, staying two metres apart at all times.
Struber, whose players were due to be tested for coronavirus on Thursday, says that his squad and staff are happy at the prospect of returning to training, but acknowledges that it is a fluid situation and things could change.
Several leading players across the country have publicly spoken of their personal fears at returning to training.
Watford captain Troy Deeney said he will not return amid concerns for his own son’s health, as well as that of BAME players, while England internationals Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling having also expressed worries.
Hull City striker Josh Magennis – who suffers from asthma – has also voiced his trepidation at returning to work at the club’s training ground.
Struber told The Yorkshire Post: “I have had a good exchange with my players. It is also a strange situation.
“They (would) like it that we are starting on Monday and are very happy we are starting. But it is a difficult situation.
“I have the responsibility and the duty for my whole staff that when I have no good feeling that maybe the number of infections are going in the wrong direction that I might cut.
“I am not waiting for instructions from the Government or the league. I have responsibility for my players and when I have no good feeling, I (will) cancel the training.
“But right now, we have the situation where the numbers go down and I hope we can make training the next time.”
Struber remains hopeful that a best case scenario of the club fulfilling their season’s commitments by July 31 can be achieved on the pitch if the Championship restarts by June 25.
But if not, league tables will be determined via unweighted points per game, which would relegate the bottom-placed Reds.
The EFL reaffirmed the desire to follow that formula in a statement yesterday – should the season be curtailed early – while stating that promotion and relegation ‘should be retained.’
The ex-Wolfsberger AC head coach believes that is unjust.
Earlier this week, a leaked email also revealed that
Hull City had written to the Football League to insist the Championship season should be scrapped without promotion or relegation.
Should the season be unable to be completed, this is a view
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shared by Barnsley, but this latest update appears to end that hope.
Reds chairman Paul Conway revealed this week that the club will consider legal action if they are relegated in 2019-20 and clubs found guilty of breaching EFL sanctions are allowed to start next season on minus points.
The Reds are among several Championship clubs – including fellow strugglers Luton Town – who believe that any rivals who are found guilty of breaking profit and sustainability rules should be punished for the offences this season and not in 2020-21.
Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County have existing charges hanging over them, while Birmingham City could be hit with a points deduction if they are found guilty of failing to adhere to an EFL business plan.
The Owls are nine points above the relegation zone and Blues hold an eight-point buffer.
Struber, hopeful that captain Alex Mowatt will sign a long-term deal after the club activated a 12-month clause in his contract this week, said: “This (finishing the season) is a fair play rule. The Championship has 46 games and when we cannot end with 46 games, of course, this is not a fair play situation for every club.
“My opinion is clear – results have no value. It is not easy, but this is my opinion about this.
“On the one side, we have a clear fairness plan on the field and also every club has the responsibility for a fair financial plan.
“When they have an issue with a financial plan, yes of course, they make a big fail.
“The EFL has the duty for a clear decision for the clubs (this season). They have the issue for the financial situation for this season and I think they (should) get the decision for this season.”
Struber flew back to England from his family home near Salzburg late last week, with the Barnsley’s foreign-based players having all returned from the continent in preparation for the proposed resumption of training in small groups on Monday.
The Reds chief added: “There has been no quarantine. We have the advise from the government about social distancing – the same as all the other people here – and I am very disciplined in this situation like with other people.
“We hope we can start on Monday in training in groups and I am very happy for that.
“We hope we can come back into a normal way of football, with the first step on Monday.”