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Ashworth: A lot to resolve before football returns

Big range of issues will be discussed on Monday by Premier League clubs.

By Alex Stedman • 10 May 2020

By Paul Hazlewood
Dan Ashworth.

Albion’s technical director Dan Ashworth says that there are a range of things that need to be decided should the Premier League return to action to finish the campaign. 

The league will meet on Monday to debate a potential resumption of the season, and Ashworth has alluded to the range of topics that will need to be covered. 

“The safety of players and staff is top of that list, everyone’s working hard to minimise risk for those groups,” he said. 

“Then there’s a series of things: Where will the games be played? When can we start? When can the players train to make sure they’re not at risk of injury? How will the games be aired? 

“The most important thing is safety, then you can look at the whole thing and discuss how it can all look, it’s about putting together the pieces of the jigsaw once we have a better idea of what the plan looks like.”

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Barber & Ashworth press conference

Ashworth was also asked on what he would deem to be ‘safe’ once action is given the green light. 

“The level of risk that the players are willing to endure," he added.

“There’s social distancing in place in a range of environments of course, but until we have a vaccine then you won’t remove the risk altogether, so it’s about how much risk we are willing to take to get the game back going again.

“Every business in the country will be having the same conversations. When’s it safe for places to be open? We’re all in the same boat, none of those will be entirely safe I’m sure and it will obviously have an impact on the economy more widely until there’s a vaccine.”