Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley left surprised by ‘unfair’ Championship restart

RIVAL Yorkshire chiefs Garry Monk and Gerhard Struber have expressed reservations about a provisional Championship restart date of June 20.
Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber.  Picture: Tony JohnsonBarnsley manager Gerhard Struber.  Picture: Tony Johnson
Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber. Picture: Tony Johnson

Owls manager Monk has called on the EFL to delay its proposed return and has deemed two-and-a-half weeks of contact training to be “inadequate” to prepare for the resumption of Sheffield Wednesday’s season following the second-tier’s shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Wednesday have confirmed that a staff member has tested positive for coronavirus.

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The EFL announced on Sunday evening it had set a provisional June 20 date for the return of its games, but it has received a lot of criticism from clubs unhappy at the lack of consultation and notice.

Monk, whose players begin contact training today – just 16 days before a possible home game with Nottingham Forest – said: “We were all taken aback by that (date) having spoken to other managers and people at other clubs.

“We had a managers’ meeting a few weeks ago with the EFL and the managers of the Championship. One thing that we all asked for and there was an agreement of we would have a minimum of three weeks contact training.

“If everyone has adhered to the guidelines and returned on the 25th (of May), then I think there is no manager that can sit here and say to you honestly that two-and-a-half weeks of contact training is good enough preparation for the players to play in an intense batch of games.

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“I understand the reasons why the EFL wanted to do that date but I think it’s unfair on us when (most of) the Premier League are starting on that date and they’ve had longer in contact training, they started training before we did and of course, we would like the same. That’s always been the consensus.”

Head coach Struber has pledged his Barnsley players will be ready for a starting date of June 20, but admits that it is not an ideal scenario.

He said: “When we get a bit more time, of course it is better for me and my whole team.

“But right now, they told us that we begin on the 20th of June and it is a fact. We have two-and-a-half weeks and I will give my best to prepare my boys.

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“We will not lose energy with other topics and we need a high spirit every time we come together in training.”

Admitting that he was shocked by the EFL’s announcement that the Championship would return on June 20, the Austrian continued: “I was very surprised. I don’t know what the reason is that we play in this short time. With the play-off games after the nine final games, it is no problem that they play (on) in August.

“When the EFL tell us that we play in this short time, I must do it. But it is a difficult situation and challenge for every player and I have the responsibility to make sure my players are ready and fit for the nine games.

“Some players may have bad (injury) issues, but I think that the EFL may give us a better solution in the next few days.”

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The latest round of EFL testing from May 30 to June 2 revealed nine positive tests for coronavirus from six separate Championship teams, including an Owls member of staff.

A club statement read: “After the latest round of Championship testing for COVID-19, we can confirm that one member of Sheffield Wednesday staff tested positive for Coronavirus.

“The staff member, who is asymptomatic, will not be named due to medical confidentiality and is now self-isolating in line with EFL and government guidance.”

One thousand and ninety-four players and club staff from all 24 Championship sides, and 126 individuals from four League Two clubs were tested in the latest batch.

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