Sunderland's potential return to training pushed back as their League One season hangs in the balance

Sunderland’s players will not be returning to small-group training on Monday.
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Championship players and staff have in the past two days begun the testing programme that will allow them to return from May 25th, as a resumption of their season behind closed doors looks more and more likely.

Phil Parkinson had initially been planning for a return to the Academy of Light on that date, in which the ‘phase one’ programme would have seen players working in groups of no more than five while observing social distance protocols.

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However, the continued impasse on the fate of the League One campaign had already placed that in significant doubt.

Sunderland will not be resuming training on MondaySunderland will not be resuming training on Monday
Sunderland will not be resuming training on Monday

CEO Jim Rodwell had earlier this week said that it was unlikely that players and staff would be brought off furlough until there was clarity on when and if fixtures would resume.

A number of clubs have expressed concerns over the financial implications of the testing programme required to clear a return, as well as the costs of ending their involvement in the furlough scheme.

With testing therefore not underway at this stage, the EFL have said that clubs in the third and fourth tier cannot return.

An EFL statement reads:

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“There is currently no testing programme under way with Clubs in League One and League Two. As a result, small group training is not permitted to commence on Monday 25 May 2020 but, if required, Clubs in League One and League Two can make their training ground pitches available for individual socially-distanced training sessions, adhering to all the relevant Government guidance and RTT protocols.

“The provisions are in place with Nationwide Pathology to extend the testing programme into League One and League Two as required, depending on the final outcome of the season curtailment discussions.”

Clubs are expected to vote on the fate of the League One season next week, with a 51% majority required to force a curtailment if, as expected, the EFL’s proposed framework is approved.

With the EFL of the view that 56 days are required to conclude all fixtures, and with a deadline of July 31st to finish already in place, hopes are fast fading that the Black Cats will be able to compete for promotion.