Health and safety should come first, not money, says Barnsley FC striker

Like many footballers, Chaplin has been keeping abreast of daily developments regarding the prospect of the Premier League and EFL emerging from its Covid-19 shutdown to finish its commitments in 2019-20.

His view is that fiscal concerns will ultimately be the key driver in any return of the Premier League, something which does not sit well with him.

Premier League clubs reconfirmed their commitment to finishing the 2019-20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic at a shareholders’ meeting last Friday.

Meanwhile, some club doctors have since written to top-flight bosses expressing concern over potential risks to restarting the competition.

Chaplin said: “Money has taken over, which is a bit sad because its nothing about that at the moment. We (football industry) are exactly the same as everybody else, just because we play football does not make us any different.

“Some seem to overlook that at times.

“The cancellation of the French League is a big story. I know the Dutch League has also been cancelled, but I think there’s more money in the French league and that does run the game. That is probably a big factor as to why the Premier League has not been cancelled as there’s so much money involved.

“I think we are just going to go after (follow) the Premier League. Whatever the Premier League decide, I think that will happen with us.”

The logistics of how clubs safely return to training ahead of any potential return of matches represents a big challenge long before any competitive ball is kicked again this season and Chaplin is preparing himself for a ‘new normal’ if players return to finish the 2019-20 season.

The former Coventry and Portsmouth player, who believes it will take players ‘three to four weeks’ to get up to speed ahead of being ready for competitive games, continued: “The manager will have to follow the authorities and the government (protocol).

“It will be interesting to see how we go about it and it won’t be easy, for sure.

“I would imagine it will be a case of turning up in your car and being ready for training and going home straightaway and showering and minimising that risk factor.”

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