'Our mindset has been focused' - Derby County's Championship rivals disagree over key issue

Hull City vice chairman Ehab Allam wants to see the current season voided due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Derby County's Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that they will not back Hull City’s calls to curtail the current Championship season.

City vice chairman Ehab Allam last week wrote to EFL chairman Rick Parry to outline his “serious concerns” over the proposed restart of the campaign next month.

Allam wants to see the current season voided due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and sent a second letter stating the integrity of the competition would be under threat if games were played.

However, so far, Hull have found no public backing from other Championship clubs ahead of an EFL board meeting on Wednesday with some sides in England’s second-tier returning to training today.

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Leeds United have already stated they would prefer to win promotion on the pitch, rather than on a points-per-game system, and Albion have said they are “resolutely behind” playing the remaining nine games of the season.

“We certainly welcome the clarity the EFL have now provided as to its future intentions in terms of resolving the conclusion of the 2019/20 season,” West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins wrote in a statement.

“However, let me say at the outset that West Bromwich Albion’s position in this remains the same now as it was back when fixtures were halted - the Club is resolutely behind finishing the campaign, if it is at all possible, where it belongs and that is on the pitch.

“We take comfort that this is also the apparent wish of all the governing bodies and the majority of our fellow Championship clubs.

“From the moment that the path was cleared for the players to return to training, albeit in a regulated and strictly-controlled format, our mindset has been focused solely on being in the best possible shape, physically and mentally, to complete the remaining nine league fixtures.

“Up to the point of the lockdown, we had enjoyed an excellent season from Slaven (Bilic) and the players and we all remain firmly behind them and their ability to finish off the job in a manner which would befit an exceptional and unique campaign.

“To that end, we are gearing up to be ready to stage games behind closed doors at The Hawthorns while observing all anticipated safety protocols.

“As Slaven has made clear, the players have applied themselves to their individual training programmes diligently and returned to training in excellent shape, mentally and physically, for the challenges ahead. We will continue to do everything we can in challenging circumstances to support their efforts.”