Watford chairman ‘uncomfortable’ with Premier League restart in June

The Hornets' official also opined that he feels football should be kept in a side for the time being.

The Premier League are slowly starting to plan a potential restart to the suspended season in June after getting the nod from the UK government to do so amid the coronavirus crisis around the country.

While the majority of the clubs want to get the season done and dusted in any way possible, mostly due to the humongous broadcast revenues which are still due to them for the rest of the season, Watford is not as keen on restarting the campaign as the pandemic shows little signs of slowing down in the UK.

Watford chairman Scott Duxbury has stated his displeasure at even thinking about a return for football amid this situation and in an official statement made it clear that the priority should be on the more ‘immediate needs’ right now.

He said, “I feel a bit uncomfortable talking about football when we are in this position. There is a pandemic, there are immediate needs. The running of the football club is secondary to what we are currently doing with the hospital. There is a greater need and a greater good that needs to be addressed. Football needs to be put to one side."

“I just feel uncomfortable a this stage even talking football. Do I want to resume (football)? Absolutely. At the moment all effort and all concentration has to be on beating this pandemic."

“It is absolutely clear - everyone can see we are facing a war - and it is a war we need to win. Football plays an important part in society, but everyone understands where our priorities need to lie,” explained the Watford chairman.

The Premier League has begun a 'Project Restart' where it has been suggested that the campaign be resumed on June 8 but with every safety measures being put into place to avoid any chance of trouble to the players or staff.

The games will only take place at a few “approved” stadiums, while players and staff will be tested regularly till the season finishes by the clubs themselves. There will only be 400 people allowed inside stadiums as the games will take place behind-closed-doors for the foreseeable future.

Arsenal have started allowing a small group of players to train separately at their London Colney training ground recently and that has been followed by a few more clubs as players gear up for a potential restart to the campaign after such a long period of inactivity.