Premier League clubs fear 12-hr road trips with Project Restart travel plans still unclear

Premier League action is set to return this month with Project Restart enabling resumption of top-flight football from June 17. Premier League return will see club football back in England after a lengthy three-month halt, owing to coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Premier League clubs training resumed with full contact last week despite multiple positive cases and Project Restart's aim to man a Premier League League return is set. However, with flying still prohibited, Premier League road trips would be a new addition in respective club's itinerary, with many clubs still in dark about Project Restart's procedures for Premier League return. 

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Premier League road trips: Clubs fear 12-hour road trips as Premier League return edges closer

Premier League sides will have to find alternatives to ir usual comfortable travel to games with clubs' routine flight to away matches highly unlikely in a bid to maintain social distancing. UK government's guidelines have added to furr confusion with earlier proposals for teams to isolate in hotels for up to a week being discontinued due to lack of available accommodation. A club official spoke to Sun Sport and claimed that travel by private planes for Premier League return is nearly impossible due to logistical burden placed on system.

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source added that y're still waiting to hear from Department for Sport and Culture about what will and won’t be allowed and hope that Premier League meeting on Thursday will provide clarity on Project Restart and travel plans. official added that usually, clubs book a 35-seater flight in order to travel for away games, but that scenario is out of question due to current restrictions. While expense of using a number of aircrafts would be prohibitive, re would also be an issue with crew and airstaff being tested for deadly virus. 

According to source, clubs will have to use three or four buses to transport all staff on day of game, which is hardly an ideal preparation ahead of Premier League return. 

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Newcastle United are set to face particularly long and arduous Premier League road trips, with both travels involving a 700-mile round-trip and 12 hours on motorway for Steve Bruce’s team. Bundesliga, which was first of 'Top 5' leagues to resume amidst coronavirus pandemic, have limited teams to 10 people per bus when travelling to fixtures. Project Restart is likely to follow same suit, with current guidelines allowing for a "bubble" of 50 people per club to enter stadiums for Premier League return games.

 figure could be increased to 60 at this week’s Premier League stakeholders’ meeting though it is unlikely to accommodate all players, coaches, physios, doctors, analysts and media staff.

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