Royals make training return under ‘special measures’
READING FC, among their fellow Championship teams, have returned to training under special measures for the first time since March.
The English Football League has provided guidelines and updated protocols for clubs to follow as they got back into action on Monday.
The Royals have been trained at Bearwood Park and the club has said that every precaution is being taken, with regular Covid-19 tests, staggered arrivals and start times and socially-distanced non-contact sessions conducted within small groups.
The club said it is delighted to see football return, but that life is not yet back to niormal.
The EFL is planning to conclude the 2019/20 as soon as it is deemed safe to do so, with matches likely to be played being closed doors.
The league said: “The EFL has provided its clubs with updated and finalised Return to
Training Protocols ahead of the planned resumption of tailored training on Monday, May 25 for Championship clubs, and moved to clarify the League’s approach to the testing of players and subsequent reporting.”
Testing of players took place last week, and the EFL said: “There will be a flexible approach to testing, with a combination of procedures conducted by independent testers, club medical staff and some self-testing as required.
“The accuracy of these tests is aligned with Government guidelines and, for the avoidance of any doubt, availability to clubs will not impact NHS testing resources or prevent other individuals from receiving a test as required.
“The EFLwill announce the following data at the end of the initial testing phase:
� the number of tests undertaken
� the number of positive cases, if any.”
“The health, well-being and safety of EFL players, managers and staff has been at the forefront of the League’s discussions, scenario planning and decision making throughout this process and we will continue to consult with medical experts to ensure this is maintained.”
At the suspension of the Championship season in March, the Royals are in 14th position in the table, with nine league games still to be played.
It is still currently unknown when the season may resume, but it has been suggested that it could be late June.
But it appears that the season is one step closer to resuming with all 24 Championship teams returning to training this week.
� First team players at the club have agreed to defer a ‘substantial percentage’ of their salaries in May, June and July, due to the pandemic.
Club captaion Liam Moore told Readingfc.co.uk: “We felt that this was the least we could do as we all try to get through the challenges that the coming weeks and months will present us with.”