‘Everyone’s in agreement’ – Whelan Exclusive: Bold EFL plans would be a gamechanger for Leeds
Noel Whelan has urged the EFL to consider putting Leeds United and other Championship sides into isolation in a game-changing bid to finish the 2019/20 season.
The boyhood Whites fan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, believes quarantining squads and playing games in one location could be the solution after the Coronavirus Pandemic shut down English football.
As revealed exclusively by Football Insider, Leeds and West Brom have agreed that resuming the campaign in early-to-mid June is both realistic and the best-case scenario for the competition.
While Premier League sides are reportedly planning to return to training in early May, Italian publication La Repubblica claim that Serie A chiefs are exploring the possibility of quarantining squads and playing behind closed doors in Rome.
Whelan believes that England should follow suit, insisting that the season cannot be called off as it has been outside the Football League and in Scotland.
“I think we’ve got to look at Italy and what they’re doing,” Whelan told Football Insider.
“If you can isolate players and have them tested, you can play games behind closed doors and get these games rattled off. Italy are now doing that.
“It’s probably something that the Premier League and the Football League will be thinking about – can we test the players now, can we keep them together, isolated in one area and get them travelled to the games and get the games played?
“I think that’s the right way Italy are doing it, I really do. Everyone’s in agreement that this season needs to be finished and it needs to be sorted as quickly as possible in the safest way possible. We can’t go willy nilly, it’s got to be by the guidelines.”
Leeds currently sit top of the Championship table, one point ahead of West Brom in second.
There are nine games left to play for the Whites, including a crunch tie against third-placed Fulham.
In other Leeds United news, Whelan has reacted to a big reveal over Jack Harrison.