WAITING GAME GOES ON...
STRIKER REVEALS HOW CITY ARE KEEPING UP FITNESS LEVELS IN CASE LEAGUE RESUMES – AS EFL ANNOUNCES ANOTHER DELAY
COVENTRY City striker Matty Godden says he and his furloughed Sky Blues teammates are keeping themselves as fit as they possibly can just in case League One action returns next month.
Mark Robins’ players are currently waiting patiently for news on the future of their promotion push with the club set for two major EFL votes next week – a wait that Godden says is “killing them”.
The Championship will make a comeback behind closed doors on June 20, three days after the Premier League returns to our screens, but third division clubs remain in disagreement over the future of the League One campaign.
The EFL deemed four weeks of training enough for the likes of Leeds United and Nottingham Forest to get back to action – but Godden believes that match sharpness will not return until clubs are well into their intense run of fixtures.
“That’s a difficult one,” he told Forza Football Academy coach Andy Welsh when asked how long it would take Coventry players to get back to being match ready.
“Match fitness is completely different to any other fitness.
“It is going to be hard because playing games in preseason does not get you match fit.
“When you start a league season in August you are not properly match fit and sharp until maybe the second week in September.
“When I used to go back into Scunthorpe as a youngster as a first or second-year professional, I would dread it. I wouldn’t see a ball for the first few weeks and there would be a running track set out. “Things are different now.
“The balls are out now on the first day.
“You don’t feel like you’re running your socks off – even though you are. All you need is a ball at your feet.
“It is difficult at the minute but we are just keeping ourselves ticking over because nobody knows
We have decided to just keep ourselves ticking over and if we go back, we go back. It is just one of those things.
Matty Godden
what is going to happen,” he continued.
“We have decided to just keep ourselves ticking over and if we go back, we go back. It is just one of those things.
“It is the not knowing that is killing everyone. Not just us players, but the fans.”
Wycombe have advised their furloughed staff to look for alternative employment once the Government scheme ends.
The League One club, who are warning of losses in excess of £2.5 million because of the coronavirus pandemic, have also said they can no longer afford to make up their salaries to 100 per cent.
Chairman Rob Couhig said on the club’s official website: “It is apparent that the club’s losses as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak may exceed £2.5m. If we are required to play games behind closed doors, whether to try to complete the season or in play-offs, these costs will go up.
“We have informed all our non-football staff presently on furlough that their pay will be limited to that which we receive from the furlough plan.
“Going forward, these furloughed employees will receive 80 per cent of their salary with a maximum payment of £2,500 per month. We are also recommending that they begin the search for alternative employment once furlough ends.”