There is a very surprising exclusive from The Sun that we could be just weeks away from seeing the Premier League resume this season.
Matt Dathan is reporting that the Government is planning to allow major sporting events to be played behind closed doors if certain criteria are met.
EXCLUSIVE: Premier League matches to resume within weeks under government plans to allow major sports to be played behind closed doors from next month.
Football’s coming home: https://t.co/dlnvAVPmsw pic.twitter.com/hEqgjZs2df
— Matt Dathan (@matt_dathan) April 24, 2020
In order for the league to resume, the Government would have to reach its five key tests which are the following:
- The NHS must still be able to cope, with the confidence that critical care and special treatment can continue across the UK
- A sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates so experts are confident that the peak has passed
- The rate of infection falling to manageable levels
- Making sure that Britain has enough testing capacity and PPE to relax measures
- Ensuring that the changes will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelm the NHS
There would also be additional criteria that all clubs would have to meet. Some of those are as follows:
- Regular testing for all participants
- Staff must be kept safe and no extra burden can be put on emergency services
- Clubs would have to put measures in place to deal with impromptu fan gatherings at grounds
The Government will review the lockdown on May 7th, and decisions made then will affect whether restarting the season is a reality.
However, the Sun claims that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is very supportive of the idea of getting games back underway.
This is what Dathan writes in his report:
Boris Johnson has been briefed on plans for matches to be played behind closed doors and sees the resumption of live sport as key to boosting the morale of the nation after weeks of being shut inside.
This seems like a cavalier venture to us, especially if the plan is to start up again before June. The authorities will hopefully weigh all of the data when making their decision on the future of this season.
However, as a Newcastle fan, our primary concern is getting this takeover approved so we can finally celebrate the end of the Ashley era.
190 comments so far
TheJimBelow
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:23 PM
Comment #1Read the headline
Eyebrows raised
Read the source
Eyes rolled…
Next!!!!
TheJimBelow
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Comment #2Neil
No offence dude, you can only relate whatever is out there atm! 🙂
Big Bruce Stars.
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:27 PM
Comment #3Odd thing is that NUFC is hardly a big punt for the Saudi PIF. Saudi cash has propped up Silicon Valley to the tune of $6bn so putting £260m stake into this club is basically a taxi tip. It’s more a coup for the smaller investors who have convinced the Saudis it’s a good addition to their grand portfolio. That and possibly a good softener of image worth its weight in gold? Hmmm.
Big Bruce Stars.
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:28 PM
Comment #4And btw I already claimed Sunday as the announcement day, no hijacking! 🙂
WLtoon
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:30 PM
Comment #5lesh from previous
You mean Al Unshirah
TheJimBelow
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:32 PM
Comment #6Ed/Neil/The Wife
Are any and all of you familiar with the tv show “Lizard Lick Towing”??
Not sure if it’s been brought up or asked before but for some reason it’s just occurred to me that those boys are from Raleigh NC and it’s events take place in and around there.
Any other posters/readers seen it??
Bit of a laugh
WLtoon
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:32 PM
Comment #7Monday 27th April announcement , AND a new board member with an affiliation with Nufc
TrumpsToonArmy(FLToon)
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:34 PM
Comment #8Repost, missed the bus
Princes Mate
So you would prefer to leave our fate in the hands of a man who knows he is going to get fired? If the season finishes out we could still go down. Would you leave your 300 mil investment in the hands of someone who knows their fate no matter what they do? I surely wouldn’t. Respect or lack of has nothing to do with it or a better line “deserves got nothing to do with it”
As far as the season goes….will the stadiums be full in autumn? don’t know but the season will be going on. If they are going to start up in a few weeks as the article stated then my money is on a fairly normal season next year.
And SB has been kicking me in the balls all season with the crap he has been playing.
TrumpsToonArmy(FLToon)
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:34 PM
Comment #9WLtoon
Hope you are right but I am sticking with May 1st.
TrumpsToonArmy(FLToon)
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:35 PM
Comment #10Someone needs to track all our predictions on takeover day.
NY Mag
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:38 PM
Comment #11TheJimBelow,
I’ve never heard of it….what’s it about?
NY Mag
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:39 PM
Comment #12Trumps,
Sounds like you just volunteered 🙂
WLtoon
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Comment #13TTA FLToon
!st May seems as good a day as any. Just got to get it done.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:49 PM
Comment #14geordietom
From earlier where you said there was a massive queue for your fish and chip shop, I ordered them from a local fish and chip shop and they were delivered within half an hour, they were luvverly!
The Prince's Mate
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:49 PM
Comment #15Trump @49. Previous…. NO of course not, but let the guy see out what’s left of the season at least… It shows respect to him also the outer world will know we’ve shown him respect which is something I would imagine our new owners will view with respect and intrest
TheJimBelow
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Comment #16NY Mag
It’s a “reality” show following two cousins who own and operate a vehicle recovery company called Lizard Lick Towing (they take the vehicle so fast it’s like a lizards tongue, get it??)
It was billed as a real-life legit business who allowed cameras in but strong rumor has it that it’s fake/scripted etc lol..
Worth a watch either way man bit of fun really.
They lift some beautiful cars and take some strange jobs…
Apparently the laws for vehicle recovery are almost unique in NC in terms of declaration etc, if the show is to be believed 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:52 PM
Comment #17Just watched The Skinwalker Ranch episode one and I’m wondering if it’s just going to be another Oak Island Mystery that never goes anywhere.
I’ll give it a chance though!
The Prince's Mate
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:53 PM
Comment #18Big Bruce@4. Naaa. Love to but I think next Thursday for some reason. What date is that??
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:55 PM
Comment #19Our lads will be missing their 12th man, whereas the opposition will still have theirs, you all know who I mean!
The Wife
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:56 PM
Comment #20TheJimBelow,
I’ve heard of the show, but never watched it. You can find Lizard Lick on a North Carolina map! I’ve been in that area once or twice. It’s definitely out in the country. 🙂
TrumpsToonArmy(FLToon)
Apr 24, 2020 at 11:59 PM
Comment #21NY Mag
Thanks for shout but I am probably the last person you want to do it. lol
TheJimBelow
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:01 AM
Comment #22The Wife
I had no idea it was a real place sorry! Lol.
Watch one or two episodes of the show if you get a chance it’s kinda funny and I’d imagine slightly better when one understands the choice descriptive words and local(ish) dialect what have you 🙂
RobLeenio
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:04 AM
Comment #23“Captain Amerimag has snaffled all of the bloody cans.”
Fine by me, as long as he passes some back to the back seats of the bus. I’m there!
NY Mag
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:07 AM
Comment #24TheJimBelow,
Thanks….I’ll look it up and give it a watch.
NY Mag
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Comment #25Trumps,
To be honest, Martooon is our man for tracking predictions.
I just don’t know if he’s “up” for this one
RobLeenio
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Comment #26Time to rise above it all, NUFC fans – or drown in our own sh!t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOKn33-q4Ao
Peace!
B1GSTEVE
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:10 AM
Comment #27Essexbill Its made by the same crew as oak island
WLtoon
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:10 AM
Comment #28IF the season does get completed there is a small chance we could be relegated, i doubt we will, BUT if we did, that would be an unexpected blow to the new owners plans.
Do fans think relegation would be that big of a deal?
RobLeenio
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:11 AM
Comment #29Did I just inadvertently kick off the night shift?
😉
stan anderson
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:11 AM
Comment #30When there was takeover talk Saudi Manure i was envious.
That didnt happen,so now they want to buy us.
I still cant get my head around the fact that the slug will be gone forever.
Its not gonna happen is it.
We are Newcastle are,nt we.
RobLeenio
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:12 AM
Comment #31“Do fans think relegation would be that big of a deal?”
Nope
NY Mag
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:14 AM
Comment #32On a side note….don’t know if it’s popular in the UK.
But I found a show called “our cops in the north” – which is one of these documentary/reality show following Northumbria police, I was totally fascinated by it.
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:14 AM
Comment #33B1GSTEVE
OK so in around 60 episodes time we’ll have learnt…………………………………Nowt! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:16 AM
Comment #34Rob
Where did the Relegation query come from, I can’t see us not getting another six points, I think we are safe in that respect.
B1GSTEVE
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:18 AM
Comment #35Bill, and they keep messing about with the timeline, its so obvious, its irritating. But I still watch every week. Itys like waiting for a takeover!!
NY Mag
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:18 AM
Comment #36Bill,
That’s pretty succinctly put (and true of course)……but, these programs reel you in never the less 🙂
WLtoon
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:19 AM
Comment #37NY MAG
I watched that cop show,, very good., Think they only made one series of it though
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:19 AM
Comment #38Aah I missed WLtoons comment, but as I said i think we are safe.
toon22
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:23 AM
Comment #39Neil
Imho most toon fans dont expect that much
We only want to build a team
We are so lacking in every single way its obvious its going to take time to build something
This is exactly the reason why most people think Rafa is the right guy to do it
He was doing this while being obstructed by the owner, imagine what he might achieve with someone backing him
With what he gave us, that hope was priceless to us
He deserves his chance he wanted, even if it means we wait till his contract is up in China
Essex Geordie Bill
Apr 25, 2020 at 12:24 AM
Comment #40NY Mag
Aye they do and the missus and I watched about three seasons of Oak Island before we gave it up, the end of the current seasons was recorded on the Skinwalker recording and they still don’t seem to have got anywhere. 🙂