EXCLUSIVE
Too soon
QPR boss Mark Warburton slams planned restart of Championship on June 20 and says EFL’s ‘ludicrous’ decision ‘beggars belief’
QPR boss Mark Warburton is ‘staggered’ by the ‘ludicrous’ decision to announce the Championship will resume as early as June 20.
On Sunday, the EFL announced second tier matches are set to resume in two-and-a-half weeks following football's suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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The deadly disease has halted all Football League games since March 13.
Championship clubs only returned to non-contact training last week and Warburton has echoed the views of his club, who say they are ‘vehemently opposed’ to the restart date.
He told talkSPORT: “Everyone was staggered when the news was suddenly announced last night. There was little consultation.
“I know our CEO, who has been outstanding throughout this, had no idea. Our medical team had no idea nor did I.
“We told the players earlier on a Zoom call that we thought June 27 would be the earliest. Now they’re looking at a week earlier.
“We didn't come back until a week after the Premier League and yet we’re starting in the same week. It’s ludicrous.”
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Championship clubs are set to begin full contact training this week.
Players have been keeping their distance in small training groups since returning to their clubs.
Warburton continued: “From our point of view, the boys have come back very fit and all credit to them in terms of the work they’ve done during the extended break.
“But the fact is this morning we had non-contact training. A drafted document should be agreed this afternoon, so by tomorrow we can hopefully start contact training.
“But we’re receiving technical guidelines about size of pitch area, number of players within that area, social distancing and yet we’re resuming a league campaign in two-and-a half weeks. It beggars belief.”
Warburton insists the safety of players and staff must be the number one priority for the EFL.
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He added: “All we can do is voice our concerns. To get this sort of shock news last night, no consultation, how can that possibly be allowed to happen?
“Safety has got to be the priority. The health and welfare of every player and staff member has to be the priority.
“We’re going too quickly, it’s far too soon. My concerns are very genuine.”
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