New reality when Rams get back in action
DERBY County will be back in action later this month.
This week the English Football League (EFL) announced that the Championship will resume on June 20 after a near three-month break because of the coronavrius pandemic.
Phillip Cocu’s side have not played since the 3-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers on March 8.
The Rams returned to training at Moor Farm last week and will, hopefully, begin contact training once that is ratified in a vote.
However, much has changed since the 2019-20 campaign began.
Games behind closed doors and the first broadcast of matches at 3pm on a Saturday for over 50 years underline just how Covid-19 has affected the sport.
Here’s what to expect when football returns.
When does the Championship season restart?
The EFL are hoping to restart the Championship season on Saturday, June 20, three days after the Premier League is set to resume.
Will the Championship season definitely restart on June 20?
At this moment, it cannot be guaranteed.
The EFL clearly said in a statement on Sunday night that June 20 is very much a provisional date and “is subject to the strict proviso that all safety requirements and Government guidance is met and that clubs receive clearance from their local authorities in order to stage matches at their home grounds.”
Will games be played at neutral venues?
As things currently stand, games will not be played at neutral venues, as the police are planning for some Premier League matches.
“It remains our intention to play all remaining League matches at clubs’ home grounds as long as they comply with the relevant Government guidance,” said the EFL.
“We will only seek to move matches if they are not permitted by the relevant local authority, following any representations from the local police force.”
We are working to broadcast the remaining 108 games either live on Sky, iFollow or a club’s streaming service.
Rick Parry
What will be the fixtures for the opening weekend?
There has been no indication yet on what fixtures will kick off the restart but working on the presumption that the fixture schedule remains the same as when football was shut down on March 13, the following matches would take place on June 20:
Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City, Cardiff City v Leeds United, Fulham v Brentford, Huddersfield Town v Wigan Athletic, Hull City v Charlton Athletic, Luton Town v Preston North End, Middlesbrough v Swansea City, Millwall v Derby County, Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley, Reading v Stoke City, Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City.
Will all games be behind closed doors?
Yes. All matches will be played behind closed doors, the EFL have confirmed.
Will matches be on TV?
The EFL confirmed on Sunday night that they remain in talks with Sky Sports regarding the broadcasting of fixtures. The EFL’s iFollow streaming service will also be used to show matches live.
“While matches will, unfortunately, have to take place without supporters, we are working with our broadcast partners, EFL Championship clubs and all relevant stakeholders to broadcast the remaining 108 games plus Championship play-offs either live on Sky Sports, iFollow or a club’s equivalent streaming service,” said EFL chairman Rick Parry.
When will the season finish?
As normal in any given Championship season, the play-off final will bring the curtain down on the campaign.
At the moment, July 30 is the scheduled date, give or take a day or two, according to the EFL, for when the play-off final will take place.