Coventry City could be back in action in August as the EFL is considering two possible dates for the 2020/21 season to begin.
The EFL board met this morning to discuss when next season’s campaign, the first of the Sky Blues in eight years in the championship, will begin.
CoventryLive assumes that two dates have been proposed to the clubs today and that both dates are earlier than expected for the return of the second division.
The first possible restart date that EFL takes into account is August 29, the last weekend in August. This date is only two weeks later than the 2020-21 season would have stared at without the sport to end the coronavirus pandemic.
If this turns out to be too early, the EFL is likely to have a backup date on September 12, a month later than a regular league campaign would begin.
This early data would allow club football to continue during the coronavirus pandemic, as expanded television coverage helps generate more broadcast revenue for fighting teams whose games are expected to take place behind closed doors.
The EFL may also need to relax some of its corona virus guidelines in order to make a restart as safe as possible for players and their families – something that is still being discussed today.
(Image: 2020 AMA Sports Photo Agency / Getty Images)
Financial experts predicted that the last ten games of the 2019-20 season would have cost £ 500,000 due to the high testing costs.
Since then, the EFL has tested players from the lower leagues who are supposed to take part in play-off tournaments. However, it is assumed that they will not be able to do this if all clubs become active again.
Coventry has acted cautiously in preparing its budget for next season.
CEO Dave Boddy has told CoventryLive that the club is preparing for the realistic possibility that it will not be able to greet fans in the stadiums until the new year.
He said: “I think it will be financially difficult for clubs to play without fans at every level, even in the championship.
“When we made these budgets [back in May]We assumed that no fans will be allowed to return until January, but hopefully since the blackout restriction, which can change, will be lifted.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming fans back because it’s going to be so strange.” he added.
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