Major Thorp Arch move planned as new return date revealed - Sources

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Published on:

30 Mar 2020, 3:36 am

Leeds United are planning to have their Thorp Arch headquarters deep cleaned before the resumption of group training, Football Insider has learned.

United are set to take the measure to prevent any potential spread of the coronavirus that has brought football to a halt.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider that the club intend to fully fumigate Thorp Arch ahead of the players returning.

Elite clubs in the Premier League, Championship and across the divisions are likely to take similar measures before full training can recommence.

Chelsea sent their players away from their Cobham training headquarters earlier this month and had it deep cleaned after Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for Covid-19.

This comes as Leeds and other Championship clubs will not be able to return to training until 14 April at the earliest.

The Football League governing body has insisted clubs operate in line with UK government advice on the coronavirus pandemic..

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced strict new curbs on British life last Monday night and the government have subsequently hinted the virtual lockdown will continue beyond the initial three-week period.

As reported by Football Insider last week, the season is unlikely to resume before 1 June as Leeds United and West Brom promotion dreams are frozen following the UK lockdown.

The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA are committed to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season as soon as it is safe and possible to do so

Full statement: https://t.co/kr0sJk8JHp pic.twitter.com/K1OBzBbKfc
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 19, 2020

Football has already been suspended until at least 30 April but that date is set to be extended by a month to give players time to return to organised training and get fully match fit.

Most leading figures in the game agree elite players require a minimum of three weeks of full training, including some 'pre-season' friendlies, before returning to competitive match action.

In other Leeds United news, a blockbuster club deal is on hold even though the contract has been 'signed'.

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