Garry Monk says Championship managers and Sheffield Wednesday players keen to return

English football has been suspended until mid-March but Wednesday's Football League (EFL) board meeting will discuss a May 25 return to training in small groups, something the Premier League clubs began doing on Tuesday. Ahead of that, a first batch of coronavirus tests would take place at the end of this week.

An email Hull City sent to the League's board and its Championship clubs calling for the season to be voided was leaked on Tuesday, and they are not the only club with doubts about playing the remaining nine matches of the campaign, but Monk says the managers want to do it providing it is safe to do so.

“We had a Championship managers meeting the other day and I think we're all in agreement that we want to complete the season,” he revealed. “I think that's the right thing to do.

“But we've been waiting a long, long time for the guidelines and some instruction pretty much all the way through. It's pretty much only gathered pace in the last week.

“The first real directive came pretty much this week in terms of a possible return date of the 25th but there are still certain things the EFL need to do in terms of the return dates for phases one, two and three needing to be signed off.

“I think we all want to finish it on the pitch but there are a lot of things that need to be signed off and agreed. There are a few grey areas that need to be worked out.”

At this stage, no Owls player has told Monk they do not want to play either.

“We've been keeping the players updated all the way through but I had my first proper meeting (about a return) on Zoom on Monday night," said Monk. "We went through all the protocols and how it would look to us, what we need to follow. There were a few questions on testing, but no reservations about returning to training as yet from the players but we have to understand although football players have been portrayed particularly poorly during this they're human beings with the same problems, issues and concerns as anyone else.

“If a player has an issue or is concerned about a risk to him or his family, you have to consider and understand that. Speaking to the club, we would look to do the right thing by that player or member of staff but we'll cross those bridges when we come to it.”

Sam Winnall revealed he caught the virus despite not suffering any symptoms, but Monk does not know if any of his team-mates have, although that should be revealed later this week.

“One of the protocols which should be signed off this week is that everyone will be tested, all staff and players,” said Monk. “There's been players with symptoms but we haven't run tests so it's unknown at this point. Maybe when we start testing we'll know if anyone has had it before or has got it now. That test on Thursday or Friday will probably give us that information.”

Monk is monitoring developments in the Premier League and in Germany, where Matt Penney played for Bundesliga 2 club St Pauli in their return at the weekend, to learn about what might happen next.

“We looked yesterday at what the Premier League teams were allowed to do so although it's not officially been allowed to us in the Championship, if they've gone back into phase two (group training), the logical thinking is that we will be able to go back into it on the 25th,” he said. “Then we need phase three to come, which is basically normal training. Unless we get to that point, of course we can't complete the season.

“We're awaiting official clarification on that.

“I spoke to Matt. They were in phase two for a while and phase three was only a short period. They don't feel fully fit but they're in a situation where they've basically been told to play these games. I guess it's the necessity of these leagues need finishing.

“I'm very happy with the protocols, they're very thorough. I guess you could look at them in two ways – number one it's brilliant for safety and health and all that side of it. The other side it is you're thinking, 'Why do we need all these protocols, having to do all them means the risk isn't gone.'

“The protocols are very excessive, very expensive, but that's what's felt that's needed to give the players the best peace of mind to return to training, so I've no problem with the protocols. Clinically they're very, very good.

“There's a bit of unknown if the clubs have to go to that expense without even knowing if we can complete the season, phase three hasn't been signed off yet.”

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor