June start date for Cats and League one clubs?
A new report claims the EFL is hoping to re-start the football season by June 6.
All football is currently suspended in England due to the coronavirus pandemic with clubs not expected to have players back training until at least May 16.
But fresh claims from ESPN claim English football is targeting a return date at the beginning of June.
As revealed by the Echo last week, the EFL is hoping to conclude the campaign behind-closed-doors over a 56-day period, when it is safe to do so.
Now ESPN report: “A video conference of all 20 Premier League clubs is due to take place this Friday in order to discuss and outline a tentative schedule for the resumption of the league in the coming weeks.
“But sources have told ESPN that the EFL, which includes the Championship, League One and League Two, is working towards games being played from June 6 onwards after an initial three-week mini pre-season starting on May 16.”
The report stresses, however, that the EFL plans will depend entirely on Government advice with the country currently subjected to lockdown and social distancing measures. They add there is ‘optimism’ football could return in June though it would be behind-closed-doors.
TheSunderlandsquadhad been training individually at home during the lockdown. Sunderland last week confirmed that all first-team players, contracted academy players and backroom staff had been placed on furlough leave. Manager Phil Parkinson remains part of the small number of staff still working, albeit from home.