Premier League vote on 'Project Restart' could be pushed back until after captains and managers have held their own talks
Premier League clubs may decide to wait past Monday’s shareholders meeting to vote on ‘Project Restart’ once captains and managers have held their own rounds of talks later in the week.
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson not issuing his update on the coronavirus lockdown until Sunday, the next Premier League meeting has been moved from Friday to next Monday.
But that is still rated by some as too soon to vote on the proposal to restart the season at neutral venues, given meetings with club captains and managers will not take place until after the shareholders talks.
Some chairmen and chief executives believe it would be pointless to hold a vote on restarting before their players and managers have been properly briefed, and before knowing whether or not they back the plan.
Concerns have been growing that a number of players are worried about the proposal to resume the season at neutral venues during the coronavirus crisis, with some already having gone public on the matter.
Premier League captains had been pencilled in to hold their round of talks with the Premier League on Monday, but that, together with the managers meeting, will not take place until after the clubs have held their latest meeting.
Captains will be expected to relay the advice they receive, together with answers to any questions, to their team-mates, meaning the likes of Manchester City’s David Silva and West Ham United’s Mark Noble will have to try to reassure Sergio Aguero and Manuel Lanzini, who have both publicly doubted whether or not football should restart.
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard last week pointed out the fact managers and players had not been consulted on ‘Project Restart’ and League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan said: "Next week, the medical and operational protocols are going to be presented to the managers and indeed the players.
"Hopefully there will be solutions that create this safe environment, in the meantime we're staying very open-minded and as always the managers take their responsibility to the game very seriously on all these issues."
Players and managers could receive protocols in document form this week, ahead of next week’s meetings and, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Bevan added: “It covers testing, tracking, PPE (personal protective equipment) available, clear guidelines on social distancing and obviously a safe environment to train and play.
"There will be guidance on cardiology, mental and emotional well-being and I think the message is health is the guiding principle to any decision-making."
