Derby County and their Championship rivals offered option over '£200,000 bill'

A total of 1,030 players and club staff were tested over three days

by
Hopes boosted for the return of football in England

Championship clubs who are having difficulty affording tests for Covid-19 will be allowed to put payments on hold.

The EFL revealed yesterday that three more individuals tested positive for Covid-19 following the latest round of testing.

A total of 1,030 players and club staff were tested over three days, with three people from two clubs being found to have the virus.


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Shortly after the EFL’s announcement, Fulham revealed that two of their players tested positive and Blackburn announced that captain Elliott Bennett had also tested positive.

Derby County and the other 23 Championship clubs could start contact training next week in a boost to hopes of finishing the campaign.

The Rams players reported back to the club's Moor Farm training complex this week.

Although each club is likely to face bills estimated to be around £200,000, SportsMail is reporting that clubs have been given the option to have the money taken directly from their next solidarity payments.

According to a report in The Telegraph on Tuesday, the EFL were set to send proposals for phase 2 training protocols to clubs on Thursday.

The report claimed that a decision is then likely to be made on Monday over the implementation of the phase.

Should everything be passed it would give clubs at least three weeks of full training ahead of a possible restart on either June 19 or the 26th.