Yahoo News Positive meetings lead to Premier League managers backing Project Restart
The Premier League's club managers backed the restart of the competition in a conference call on Tuesday and told the league's executive that they want a resumption date as soon as possible so they can fine-tune their planning.
In what was a much more positive day of meetings with managers and players than the previous conference calls with the same groups, there was an explanation of "step two" - the contact-training phase of Project Restart. There is optimism that the 2019/20 will be completed behind closed doors following football’s suspension for the coronavirus pandemic.
The main concern from managers was the restart date in June, with the preference to have as much time to build fitness during a mini pre-season. But discussions were less fractious than the opening round of talks, where it is understood views were openly challenged.
Squads have returned to Step 1 of training and representatives at the latest meeting were encouraging over a restart. The Professional Footballers’ Association were also present to represent union members and have raised fears over safety and testing protocols.
There were 996 players and staff tested during the second round of tests last week, with two positive cases including Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Six positive tests from three clubs were returned from the first round.
Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool captain, has praised the measures put in place for players, who have been told the Premier League’s aim is to make football the safest area of society.
"The measures that the Premier League and Liverpool - and I'm sure other clubs across the Premier League - are amazing,” said Henderson on BBC Radio Five Live.
"It's been really good and I think the majority of players would agree, in terms of how safe they feel once they went back in with all the measures that they have put in place. Hopefully that can continue right throughout into the next phase and then so on and so on."
Following the move into Step 2 of Project Restart, the final stage is playing the remaining 92 games of the season behind closed doors.
