West Ham chief lifts lid on latest thinking at Premier League clubs - and when football could return

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady maintains Premier League clubs are determined to deliver an end to the season when safe to resume playing, even if it runs into July.
Karren Brady, West Ham United vice-chairman.Karren Brady, West Ham United vice-chairman.
Karren Brady, West Ham United vice-chairman.

The Premier League, English Football League and Professional Footballers' Association met on Friday to discuss the economic implications of the suspension of the season.

There will be further talks in the coming week, with the projected restart of the season currently being April 30.

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However, with the country currently in lockdown, that appears a very optimistic target date.

Nevertheless, there remains a consensus to try to complete the current campaign, with the possibility of matches being played initially behind closed doors when deemed safe to do so.

Brady confirmed in her column in The Sun that West Ham have eight players in self-isolation showing mild symptoms of coronavirus and "seem to be well".

David Moyes' squad all have fitness programmes to do at home, with the current plan that they will resume training when the current lockdown period ends on April 13, should further restrictions not be imposed.

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"When we - all Prem clubs - last spoke, we agreed to get going again as soon as possible," Brady said.

"And that games will run into July, if required, to get this campaign finished. This is the plan. This is what we want to deliver.

"It may be games have to be played behind closed doors, which no one wants - especially the players and fans.

"But we hope it might just be possible to go ahead once the sharp graph of it bottoms out."