May 28 D-day looms after Prem stall on the BIG decisions with question marks over restart hopes

WE’VE had two months of moaning, bleating and  blatant self-interest.

Of hiding behind the legitimate concerns of players who will be on the frontline.

Many questions remain unanswered despite the Premier League D-Day approachingCredit: PA:Press Association

And sending up trial balloons in a blatant bid to obstruct and prevent football coming back.

But with D-day pencilled in for the 20 Prem clubs on Thursday, May 28, all that must come to an end — for good.

It is now time for top-flight clubs to grow a pair and tell us the truth.

Either they back the restart plans that will see football return, behind closed doors, to the nation’s TV screens next month.

Or they will not support any type of resumption. And be prepared to take a financial and reputational hit.

That the Premier League will not be the same when we return is abundantly clear.

It cannot be. After all, by the time the next ball is kicked in anger, more than THREE MONTHS will have passed since the last one was.

But, in truth, it is not just football that has changed.

The whole world has. In an unprecedented, inconceivable manner.

We are now in the world of social distancing and empty stands. Of  disinfected balls, boots, even pitches. Of temperature tests every day and swabs up the nose twice a week.

So it is now incumbent on  everyone to grasp the nettle.

Twice next week, on Tuesday and then Thursday, the 20 Prem clubs will gather round the virtual boardroom, for Zoom calls with millions riding on the outcome.

First, if they can square off the players and managers over the next week or so, it will be to agree the move to “Stage Two” training.  Contact work.

Tactical drills. Proper football preparation. That may not be simple.

After all, while the League medics are convinced they have done  everything possible to ensure a safe environment, Prem chief executive Richard Masters admitted: “We haven’t talked to players or even clubs yet about a return to contact training, in terms of the fine details.

“We’re anticipating in the next week to ten days we can explain how contact training would work so they can raise concerns and questions.”

Those concerns will come  especially from BAME players whose community is seemingly more  vulnerable to the devastating effects of the virus.

League director of football Richard Garlick conceded: “It’s fair to acknowledge that there is an increased risk in BAME groups.

“But in mitigation the risk in young, fit athletes is still very, very small. That is an important factor.”

Yet in truth, that is the easy bit. The real heavy lifting will come 48 hours later when the serious issues get thrashed out.

One of the first will be precisely when the Prem will kick off for the second time in this most bizarre of seasons.

Masters accepts the official June 12 target is now just a “staging post” and with managers wanting up to four weeks of intensive work, June 19 or even June 26 are more viable.

But clubs will need to agree on far more than just the date. They also have to work out the schedule. While clubs are working at playing games over seven weekends and two  midweek dates, Masters revealed there were “some interesting options”.

An early priority will be getting the two outstanding games — Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City and Aston Villa’s home date with  Sheffield United — played, so that, if the guillotine comes down again, all teams will have played the same number of games.

Masters insisted there was no  discussion of “curtailment” at  yesterday’s meeting but that has to be addressed, confirmed and agreed on Thursday week, with decisions on how relegation will be determined if a restarted league cannot finish.

Premier League clubs have agreed to play at eight neutral venues if the Government agrees football can restart

Clubs want to know what will happen if they suffer a spate of positive tests, ruling out a significant number of players. Can they be forced to put out a team? There are also worries about injuries on the back of the extended lay-off.

 While it is unlikely the players will be happy to hear about their extended spell in bio-secure  quarantine hotels between training sessions in the build-up to restart.

Chelsea, Manchester City,  Manchester United and Wolves would face a major quandary over travel issues if the planned two-week  quarantine for international travellers is still in place in August.

But all 20 teams will be in a  similar boat before kick-off.

Garlick explained: “The advice from Government is that if we have to isolate it will have to be 14 days.

“You would have to be in a hotel environment for 14 days to make it truly effective.

“That is something we are thinking about and will have to consult widely with players, managers, the PFA and stakeholders.”

There are other sticking-point issues too.

Masters, on behalf of the clubs, is now locked in talks with Sky and the other broadcasters, aimed at clawing back some of the £330m rebate that has been demanded for disruption to TV schedules.

The TV execs want more for less. The clubs face huge financial hits. The bitterness will rumble on for some time, part of the “intimate  discussions” that Masters said are already ongoing.

Yet what matters now, urgently, is that the big calls are made. No more excuses, please. No more whinges.

Man — and woman — up. Put your cards on the table. Show us all what you are made of and take a decision.

We can’t wait any longer.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk