Premier League making ‘good progress’ with plans to resume season next month, government says

Talks are now centring around how clubs plan to return to training with a number of high profile players raising concerns over safety

The Premier League are making “good progress” with plans to resume the 2019/20 season next month, the government have revealed.

The top flight has been suspended indefinitely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic with clubs meeting again on Monday as they look to agree on how and when to return to the field.

Monday’s talks will centre around how clubs plan to return to training with a number of high profile players raising concerns over their safety.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says “good progress” is being made “very constructive” discussions over recent days.

“I had some very constructive discussions on Thursday with the FA, the EFL and the Premier League,” Dowden told Sky News.

“We are working hard with them to try and get it back, aiming for mid-June, but the number one test if public safety.

“They, like a lot of other sports we’re looking at returning behind closed doors, have met with Public Health England several times to look at the safety.

“If we can sort that out then we will look to resume by mid-June. We’re making good progress.”

Dowden added there are plans for changes to the way some games are broadcast with terrestrial television being considered for some matches.

He added: “As part of that I’m hoping we can have something a bit more ambitious with some more free-to-air matches for people to watch from home because that would be helpful in terms of discouraging people from leaving their home to watch it.”