The EFL letter sent to Cardiff City, Swansea City, West Brom

The EFL letter sent to Cardiff City, Swansea City, West Brom, Leeds United and others outlining bold proposal to finish season

The English Football League has started contingency planning should all fixtures not be able to be completed at clubs' home grounds


Sport:

Wednesday 29th April 2020


Bristol City's Ashton Gate might play host to a South West 'regional hub' when football returns


The English Football League has reportedly written to all 71 clubs about the possibility of finishing the season at select 'regional hubs' around the country.

Cardiff City and Swansea City each have nine games left to complete their Championship campaigns, however there are conflicting views over whether to void the season all together or resume it when it is safe enough to do so.

However, it is thought the EFL are insistent on ensuring this season is completed in its entirety.

The Evening Standard report that their preference is for all games - there are 341 outstanding in the three tiers below the Premier League - to take place behind closed doors at each club's respective home grounds.

However, they also report that the governing body on Tuesday wrote to all 71 clubs about the possibility of potentially hosting matches at selected, approved stadia in certain parts of the country.

It is reported they have asked the safety officers at each club to submit an 'operational plan' pertaining to how suitable their grounds are to host matches without fans.

These 'regional hubs', it is thought, will see multiple fixtures hosted at just one venue in each of London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West and the South West, the category in which Cardiff City and Swansea City fall.

It is as yet unclear whether stadia will be split by division or simply region, i.e. whether all of Newport County, Swansea and Cardiff play at one ground or whether the Exiles will have to play at a different South West ground approved only for League Two use.

Similarly, if a South West hub is approved only for the Championship, the two South Wales clubs and Bristol City would likely have sole use of it.




So, for example, Bristol City's Ashton Gate might be the approved ground and Cardiff, Swansea and the Robins might have to play all of their home Championship matches there.

It is thought this plan will help reduce the strain on emergency services and each ground will be far easier to stringently assess as there will be fewer of them.

No decision has been made as yet, however the EFL are thought to be feeling out a number of potential scenarios and want to ensure clubs are ready for when the Government give football the green light to resume.

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Playing at Ashton gate? they have got to be joking, let each club play their home games at home, I really cannot see why this is not possible as there will be no crowds so they don't have to worry about fans being there

Playing at Ashton gate? they have got to be joking, let each club play their home games at home, I really cannot see why this is not possible as there will be no crowds so they don't have to worry about fans being there

But I reckon for each home game there would be a congregation of hundreds, maybe even thousands of home fans outside the ground trying to make their presence felt and show some support (look at the games just before lockdown in europe)

Maybe this is one way they league will try and put a stop to that.

Playing at Ashton gate? they have got to be joking, let each club play their home games at home, I really cannot see why this is not possible as there will be no crowds so they don't have to worry about fans being there

But I reckon for each home game there would be a congregation of hundreds, maybe even thousands of home fans outside the ground trying to make their presence felt and show some support (look at the games just before lockdown in europe)

Maybe this is one way they league will try and put a stop to that.

True but what about when Bristol city are playing there?

Playing at Ashton gate? they have got to be joking, let each club play their home games at home, I really cannot see why this is not possible as there will be no crowds so they don't have to worry about fans being there

But I reckon for each home game there would be a congregation of hundreds, maybe even thousands of home fans outside the ground trying to make their presence felt and show some support (look at the games just before lockdown in europe)

Maybe this is one way they league will try and put a stop to that.

True but what about when Bristol city are playing there?

Quite

Based on Geography Cardiff would have been a better choice as it is half way between Bristol and Swansea.

True but what about when Bristol city are playing there?

Based on their crap support I suppose the EFL didn't think it would be an issue

True but what about when Bristol city are playing there?

Based on their crap support I suppose the EFL didn't think it would be an issue

No fans but they are worried about the effects on the emergency services. 22 men playing f*cking football get a god damn grip. Ohh well our stadiums will be just like our hospitals f*cking empty

No fans but they are worried about the effects on the emergency services. 22 men playing f*cking football get a god damn grip. Ohh well our stadiums will be just like our hospitals f*cking empty

Be surprised at the rules and regs for any sporting occasion.

Heart issues, swallowed tongue, head injury. So many ways a player can get seriously hurt or worse and they need emergency services availability. Obviously be a lot less as no fans there.

No fans but they are worried about the effects on the emergency services. 22 men playing f*cking football get a god damn grip. Ohh well our stadiums will be just like our hospitals f*cking empty

need to start filling the hospitals up with the people that would normally be in them before more damage is done

Surely - first of all for every club - every player / coach / physio / coach driver etc needs to be tested. Then once they are proven to be negative - they need to all stay together and not come into contact with anyone else. Put them in an hotel somewhere.

Once you then have all clubs on board - where everyone involved is negative - then play the games in as few stadiums as possible. All games behind closed doors - so no advantage to anyone.
Then play all the games as close together as possible 23 games could be played in one day at just 7 grounds. Each ground could take 3 games or so in a day. 3 games in a week - it could be completed in 3 weeks. and then straight in one off play off games, in a week. All over by the end of May .