Premier League clubs ‘hope to start training on May 9 as teams bid to complete the season ‘
Premier League clubs are targeting a return to training on May 9 as English football bids to get back underway, according to reports.
Managers across the top flight are said to have held talks with players about plans to get back to the training pitch ahead of a proposed restart to the season following over a month of suspension due to coronavirus, the Sun reports.
Teams such as Bournemouth, West Ham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace are all lining up the date with clubs eager to get players back up to scratch after being forced to monitor their fitness levels remotely from home.
A number of Premier League teams are reportedly preparing to return to training on May 9
Premier League chiefs have been holding talks about when the campaign might be able to resume, with June being earmarked and games likely to be held behind closed doors.
The season is currently suspended indefinitely with the country on lockdown, but the Premier League is under pressure to finish the season from clubs who are without matchday revenue as well as from TV companies who have signed lucrative deals.
Eddie Howe has reportedly spoken to his Cherries stars about possibly returning to training, the report adds, while Sean Dyche is preparing for his Burnley players to return on the same date.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is said to have warned his stars about plans to get back to work
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United had initially planned to get back on the training pitch as early as May 4 but have now adjusted the date to May 9.
At a Premier League meeting on Friday, clubs committed to finishing off the campaign. However, some teams remain concerned about failing to finish the season by June 30 – when contracts of various stars will expire, allowing them to leave for nothing while matches are still being played.
It has been reported that the rest of the season could be played out at neutral grounds, including Wembley Stadium, with concerns that hosting matches at the original venues will be logistically impossible when some restrictions are likely to remain because of the pandemic.
