QPR ‘absolutely appalled’ by EFL decision to resume Championship on 20 June

Les Hoos said the club ‘vehemently opposes’ the decision

Queens Park Rangers chief executive Les Hoos has been left “absolutely appalled” by the English Football League’s decision to resume the Championship on 20 June.

The EFL announced the provisional restart date on Sunday evening after the government cleared competitive sport to return from 1 June.

However, Hoos says director of football Les Ferdinand and manager Mark Warburton were ”stunned” by the announcement and “vehemently oppose” the decision.

Championship players have yet to begin full-contact training, despite the proposed restart date being less than three weeks away, with Hoos insinuating that other club executives shared his point of view.

“I am absolutely stunned by this announcement, as is our director of football Les Ferdinand and our manager Mark Warburton,” Hoos said. “Incredibly, there has been absolutely no consultation with individual clubs nor with the Championship doctors’ working group by the divisional representatives – or anyone else in the Football League – regarding this matter. On top of that, we were only made aware of the statement 40 minutes before it was made public.

“Having spoken with Les and Mark, they share my views. We are vehemently opposed to this schedule. The players haven’t even returned to full-contact training at this moment and yet they are now expected to be in a position to play at a competitive level in just three weeks’ time.

“I have made our feelings known to the EFL and, having spoken with a number of CEOs at other Championship clubs, I am not a lone voice on this matter. We are absolutely appalled.”

QPR manager Warburton echoed his chief executive’s comments, saying it “beggars belief” to be thinking of resuming on 20 June.

“Staggered,” he told TalkSport. “I think everyone was staggered last night when the news was suddenly announced late evening.

“Little consolation. I know our CEO, who has been outstanding throughout, had no idea. Our medical side had no idea, nor did I. We had told the players earlier on a Zoom call that we thought 27 June would be the earliest and now they’re looking a week earlier. We haven’t come back until a week after the Premier League and yet we start on the same day. It’s ludicrous.

“To get this sort of shock news last night, no consultation whatsoever with them, how can that possibly be allowed to happen? Safety has got to be the priority. The health and welfare of every player and staff member has to be the priority. We’re going too quickly, it’s far too soon. My concerns are very genuine.”

QPR are currently six points adrift of the play-off places and 11 points clear of the relegation zone with nine games of the season remaining.