EFL Sets June Target Date to Resume Championship, League One & League Two Seasons

The EFL are aiming to get the football season back underway within the next two months, with 6 June pencilled in as the date for proceedings to resume.

Football across Europe - bar the Belarus Premier League - has been suspended indefinitely as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

In England, all divisions below the National League have had their seasons declared null and void, while in the women's game, tier three and below have seen all results expunged.

According to ESPN, the EFL are aiming for Championship, League One and League Two games to be played from 6 June onwards.

Due to the state of lockdown imposed by the UK government, players are currently training individually at home, and the EFL have taken this into consideration, with the return date incorporating an initial three week mini pre-season.

The EFL's plans are entirely dependent on the UK government's advice and the state of lockdown measures in the country.

The EFL season can be completed in 56 days when it’s safe to resume following the coronavirus pandemic, clubs have been told.

In full: https://t.co/fHmDj5Jnvi #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/JRD5OMbOuU
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 9, 2020

However, ESPN reports that there is an 'optimism' that football can return by June, although this will likely be behind closed doors.

There are still nine games left to play in the Championship, with Leeds and West Brom currently in pole position to seal promotion, while in Leagues One and Two, teams have between eight and 10 fixtures remaining.

All 20 Premier League clubs are poised to meet via conference call on Friday 17 April to discuss and draft up a provisional schedule for the return of the top flight.

The EFL's suggested return on 6 June is one of a selection of options up for discussion.

Premier League teams had been looking into the logistics of 'coronavirus testing machines' to enable sides to return to training in May.

This would allow for a strict, daily monitoring of players to check for COVID-19 symptoms.

A World Cup-style end to the season is another proposed idea to finish the season quickly and minimise interference with the 2020/21 campaign, with the FA reportedly offering St George's Park and Wembley as neutral venues.