The Premier League Shareholders have unanimously approved a return to training beginning tomorrow afternoon.
Premier League Shareholders today voted unanimously to return to small group training from Tuesday afternoon – the first step towards restarting the Premier League, when safe to do so
Full statement: https://t.co/8F3qJxZssV pic.twitter.com/nEdWoQ8EGI
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 18, 2020
Here is the full statement from the league.
Premier League Shareholders today voted unanimously to return to small-group training from tomorrow afternoon, the first step towards restarting the Premier League, when safe to do so.
Step One of the Return to Training Protocol enables squads to train while maintaining social distancing. Contact training is not yet permitted.
This first stage has been agreed in consultation with players, managers, Premier League club doctors, independent experts, and the Government.
Strict medical protocols of the highest standard will ensure everyone returns to training in the safest environment possible.
The health and wellbeing of all participants is the Premier League’s priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process.
Full consultation will now continue with players, managers, clubs, the PFA and LMA as protocols for full-contact training are developed.
This is a massive first step as the league tries to complete this season. The success of phase 1 is vitally important in making that a reality.
Newcastle’s players underwent testing for the coronavirus yesterday. The results will be known by the time training begins tomorrow.
The club has tweeted the following update on their return to training.
? Newcastle United's players are set to return in small groups to the club's training ground this week as they begin their preparations for the proposed resumption of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) May 18, 2020
Newcastle have also issued their own statement on this development in which they ask fans and the media to refrain from traveling to the training ground.
Here is part of the club’s statement which details what training will look like during phase 1 of Project Restart:
On Tuesday – by which time all test results will be known – players and staff will arrive at pre-arranged times staggered in groups of a maximum of ten players, with each working in groups of no more than five in separate areas of two pitches to allow for social distancing measures at all times.
Players will arrive in their training kit, parking their cars at least three spaces apart, and will head straight out to the field, with no access to the main building. They will then leave immediately after training. All equipment – including balls, corner flags, cones, goalposts, GPS units, boots, and gloves – will be regularly disinfected and players will wear protective snoods on their faces at all times.
The players and staff will also be using an innovative app, developed by world leading bio-analytics company Orecco in association with Newcastle United, to record any potential symptoms.
Newcastle recalled their non-playing staff from furlough last week in preparation for the players returning to the training facilities.
Hopefully, no one associated with the club will have tested positive for the coronavirus. If they do, they will have to go back under quarantine. Positive tests will be treated on an individual basis and won’t derail the start of phase 1.
It looks like we could see matches played next month as long as the first few phases of Project Restart prove successful.
7 comments so far
Jib
May 18, 2020 at 3:50 PM
Comment #1There’s an interview with Bruce talking about phase one training on NUFC tv
The Prince's Mate
May 18, 2020 at 3:58 PM
Comment #2JD, aye Zidane could learn loads from Brucie, just don’t mention his sister…
JDdubai
May 18, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Comment #3Pochettino’s gardening leave has ended, finally free to join a new club…………….
The Hit Man & Her
May 18, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Comment #4I hope the ground is firm going, there’ll be some right porkers chucking up the turf when they joggle out first day 🙂
the Northumbrian
May 18, 2020 at 4:02 PM
Comment #5Nice pic of training ground shame about the fun88 ads but not a sh**e direct sign in sight.
hibbit
May 18, 2020 at 4:08 PM
Comment #6JDdubai is that officially confirmed ??
ctommo
May 18, 2020 at 4:37 PM
Comment #7https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mauricio-pochettino-free-sign-new-22046433