Concerning the ongoing issue on how to get the Premier League running amidst the crisis fallen upon the continuity of the league. The Premier league have now released an update on Monday evening, following the meeting of Shareholders.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters stated that all the twenty Premier league clubs are harmonious in their quest to get the 2019/20 season back on track, with players and managers liable to play an important role towards the return of the competition.
“In today’s meeting, it was reiterated the Premier League and clubs absolutely recognise the COVID-19 pandemic puts football into context,” Masters said. “So many lives have been lost and so many others deeply affected.
“We are proud at the response to the pandemic that the Premier League, our clubs and our players have provided with vital support to communities and to the NHS and hopefully will continue to do so after matches recommence.”
Richard Masters also reveals that, towards the planning of the league return, he assures that the league will strictly adhere to all Governmental and other professional advice.
“We welcome these first steps and are ready to play our part,” he said. “We are working flat out with clubs and stakeholders – Government, our broadcast partners, The FA, the EFL, PFA and the LMA – to create a responsible, safe and deliverable model to complete the season.
“Of course, safety comes first. We must listen to Government, the authorities and the medical experts and continue to follow their advice.
“That is exactly what we are doing. We are getting ourselves in the best position to resume the season, but only when the conditions are right.”
Richard Masters professed that the latest meeting of Premier league club proves that all the twenty clubs are of the same desire to conclude the season.
“There was a strong desire to discuss everything in the round and to agree a collective way forward,” he said. “A really strong collective will to complete the season remains.”
Chief executive laid more emphasis on the important role that both players and managers are to play amidst this period and a meeting was said to be planned with them later this week.
“Our priority will always be the safety of players, coaches and managers, staff, supporters, and the wider community,” he said.
“Nothing will be agreed until we have spoken to both the managers and players.”
He also explained that before the next step in their plan for players and staffs to return to group training can take effect, both players and managers are needed to be consulted but will still adhere to social-distancing measures been put in place.
Richard added that a company had been appointed to conduct testing at club training grounds. He spoke on the issue of match venue and also the possibility of using neutral venues instead.
“Obviously it is the preference of all our clubs to play at home if at all possible,” Masters said. “It is an ongoing dialogue and we’ve been talking to the authorities about the conditions in which we could get the Premier League back up and running and are taking all that advice on board.”
Concerning the recent appointment of Gary Hoffman as the new Premier League Chair, Richard Masters stated that:
“I am looking forward to working with Gary. He has a tough act to follow in Claudia, who I have worked with so closely over the last 18 months.
“I know Claudia has the respect of everyone at the Premier League and all the players.
“We are looking forward to that new team emerging.”
