West Ham United boss David Moyes and captain Mark Noble will join a call today which could decide the season.
Read: Worst-hit Tottenham can’t afford ‘wantaway’ West Ham man
The Premier League will hold conference calls with West Ham manager Moyes and his skipper Noble as well as medical experts on Wednesday.
All 20 top-flight managers will log in to the meeting which is being billed as the ‘first-of-its kind.
The meetings will include representatives from the Professional Footballers’ Association and League Managers Association.
Sky Sports claims the key focus will be the issue of player welfare as the Premier League aims to resume next month.
Key man Noble and boss Moyes on call which could decide season
Alongside Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson, West Ham’s Noble has been a key figure in fielding concerns of Premier League players (Daily Mail).
And the attitude of the players towards Project Restart will very much determine whether the league restarts as planned.
“Medical protocols will be presented to managers by the Premier League’s chief medical adviser, Mark Gillett,” Sky Sports reports.
“Managers are keen to learn more about the testing of players and tracking of positive cases. And what happens if one or more players test positive when training and competition returns.
“The LMA, as well as all 20 Premier League managers, will continue discussions on Thursday, Friday and next Monday to made sure their major concerns are fully considered.”
No players, no football
The players hold the ace card in any negotiations. After all no players, no football.
Noble will go into the meeting determined to get West Ham’s season finished.
That is regardless of noise coming from the likes of West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady who told The Sun the season should be declared null and void.
In Noble’s opinion that is morally wrong. And he has told Redknapp’s Home Fixture the season should be completed behind closed doors.
Moyes’s position is less clear going into the meeting.
Conflicting messages coming out of West Ham over restart
There have been conflicting messages coming out of West Ham over resuming the season.
Brady’s comments about voiding the season reportedly got her in hot water with her boss David Sullivan (The Daily Mail) and she later backtracked.
The Hammers chief then wrote in her column in The Sun recently that West Ham and the other 19 Premier League clubs are committed to resuming the season.
And she even laid out West Ham’s phased plan to return to training and matches.
But in her latest column she raised concerns about the feasibility of keeping players safe (The Sun).
Following today’s meeting, Prem bosses will meet with government officials again tomorrow (Thursday).
The outcome of the meeting involving Moyes, Noble and co will have a big bearing on finding a way forward.
Read: Mark Noble unsure over his West Ham future, makes suggestion to owners
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