West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has called for a level playing field as Premier League clubs prepare to meet again to discuss plans to resume top flight football. On Monday, top flight clubs are set to discuss the latest on the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ plans for the resumption of football, after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delivered an update on lockdown guidelines on Sunday. Clubs are waiting to be given the go-ahead by the government to allow players to start non-contact training, with some top flight sides, including West Ham, allowing players to work individually at the training ground. However, Brady has delivered a strong warning about the next steps and what may happen next for clubs and players.
Karren Brady said “If lockdown is lifted and government and PHE (Public Health England) give us permission to resume non-contact training, there are to be new rules for players and staff. This includes not sharing cars, to limits through to the time a small group training session should last (75 minutes) and standing two metres away from each other. In this phase, tackling is prohibited, but passing and shooting is allowed. We will also need to disinfect the corner flags, goalposts and even the grass – although how remains a mystery as that usually kills it.”
Meanwhile, Brady has delivered her verdict on the plans to play the remaining 92 games in the Premier League at neutral venues, which has been met with opposition from the bottom six clubs who are all battling to avoid relegation. And the West Ham vice-chairman insists that while the Hammers want to play their final nine matches this season, she said all clubs must be given a fair opportunity in the battle to avoid the drop.
