RAMS SET FOR RETURN TO PRIDE PARK

...BUT SUPPORTERS WILL BE URGED TO STAY WELL AWAY

THE EFL have confirmed their intention for remaining Championship games to take place at clubs’ home grounds, if and when the season resumes.

That would mean Derby County’s final four home games – against Reading, Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Leeds United – being staged at Pride Park Stadium.

Matches have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with nine rounds of fixtures remaining.

While League Two clubs have voted to curtail the season, the Championship is continuing discussions on resuming the campaign and League One sides are yet to come to a decision.

If football does return, matches will take place behind closed doors – something that may also be necessary at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

However, there are concerns that some supporters may gather outside the stadium, even if no entry is allowed, particularly in decisive games at both ends of the table that could lead to celebrations.

Neutral venues continue to be mentioned as a possibility, which has proven to be an extremely controversial proposal, but the EFL have clarified that they will only be used if there is no alternative.

An EFL spokesman said: “It remains our intention to play all remaining league matches at clubs’ home grounds, as long as they comply with the relevant government guidelines.

“We will only seek to move matches if they are not permitted by the relevant local authority, folDERBY lowing any representations from the local police force.”

A vote on the system for ending the current campaign, should it need to be curtailed, has been further delayed.

The EFL confirmed another meeting will take place on Monday, June 8, when clubs will vote on approving rule changes for how to end the season.

They have until Tuesday to submit proposals for alternative ideas on how it should finish.

The EFL recently proposed a framework that would see final positions be decided on an unweighted points-per-game system – and that promotion, relegation and the play-offs will take place.

The EFL have yet to firmly outline potential restart plans for the second tier, despite the Premier League having made their programme clear on Thursday.

Michael Holding has been voted the best overseas signing ever made by Derbyshire.