EFL issue Swansea City with key travel and accommodation warning ahead of Middlesbrough trip
Swansea return to Championship action next week with a lengthy trip up to the North East
Glen Williams
Thursday 11th June 2020
Swansea City are weighing up travel and hotel arrangements for when their Championship campaign restarts against Middlesbrough a week on Saturday.
It has already been a mammoth task to get the league back up and running, but clubs are still facing sizeable logistical issues - including for away games.
Travel and accommodation remain big concerns among many clubs and with the season yet to get back into full swing, there are bound to be teething problems.
Clubs have had to adhere to strict guidelines during their return-to-training protocols, including staggered training times for small groups, undertaking two coronavirus tests per week, constant sanitising of training equipment and prohibiting players from entering buildings.
However, contact training is now taking place and Swansea City will even face arch-rivals Cardiff City this weekend in a bid to ramp up their preparations for the Boro clash
But one big question remains over the aspect of overnight accommodation, which is seen as one of the riskier aspects associated with long-distance away matches.
The EFL has said they will not force the Swans to travel on the morning of their 'Boro game, although the club are considering that as an option by air, and have told them that hotel accommodation is still a legitimate option.
The alternative would be for Swansea to fly up to the North East on the morning of the match and then make the rest of the journey to the Riverside Stadium by coach.
While that is an avenue they could take, it is understood to be the least likely of their options.
With players and staff staying away from their homes in lockdown and inside hotels, there was some discussion it may be seen as an unnecessary risk in the wider effort to keep transmission down.
The EFL is advising clubs hotels are permissible for essential use, but has warned of the additional risks and suggested carrying out full risk assessments at premises before using them.
It is understood that the governing body has given clubs a list of hotels which are able to host elite athletes and key workers around the country, so an overnight stay is also very much on the cards.
One option would be for the club to fly up the day before the game - next Friday - stay overnight and then jet back down the evening after the match.
Another option would be to travel up on the Friday by coach. This would see the Swans take two separate buses - one for the team and one for other staff and personnel.
If they choose to fly, it would mean they would have limited numbers and would have to be selective in who would be allowed on the charter plane.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.