Return pushed back once again

THE April 30 return date for English football is to be put back. EFL clubs were yesterday informed by memo that the crisis caused by coronavirus has made any likelihood of football being played next month impossible. A new date is expected to be announced next week following a meeting between the Premier League and EFL. Officials have accepted that, with the UK in lockdown and players unable to train, April 30 is not a realistic prospect. A week ago the suspension was extended to April 30, with the FA agreeing that the current season could be ‘extended indefinitely’. Earlier in March, football had been suspended until at least April 3. On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a nationwide lockdown so players have been unable to train since. The FA also announced that all football below the three divisions will end immediately, with results scrapped. The same will also happen in the women’s game, below Women’s Super League and Championship level. The memo to clubs, seen by

Sportsmail, states that the EFL board met on Wednesday. It adds that given the lockdown ‘it would now appear that recommencing professional football on 30 April is not going to happen and, following further dialogue with the Premier League next week, we will provide further information’. It adds that discussions are ongoing with the Professional Footballers’ Association over what support the union can provide over wages and contractual issues. Within the memo, EFL chairman Rick Parry (left) says he is hoping those talks will be concluded before

April’s payroll.