Preston boss Alex Neil urges players to be careful with holiday plans as new Championship season is set to start on September 12

Preston North End will be back in Championship action seven weeks today after the EFL announced a September 12 start to the 2020/21 season.
Alex NeilAlex Neil
Alex Neil

The Premier League is to kick-off on the same day as English football attempts to steer itself back on course after the demands put on this campaign by the pandemic.

North End’s season only ended on Wednesday night at Bristol City, while the Premier League’s final round of games are tomorrow.

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The PNE players will get about three weeks off before coming back for pre-season training in mid-August.

That will give them four weeks or so to prepare for the September kick-off.

The fixture list is due out in the first couple of weeks of August.

There’s much to be done over the next few weeks, with clubs at all levels waiting for further instructions on having fans back in stadiums.

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With October 1 suggested by the Prime Minister as a date for spectators to return, it will mean the first few games of the season being behind closed doors.

It’s unlikely that grounds will be able to operate at full capacity for some time, with a 30% capacity suggested in some media reports lately.

That would allow for social distancing both in the seats and on the concourses.

From a playing point of view, PNE have a number of players now in the final year of their contracts.

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So the summer break looks like being a busy one in terms of negotiated renewals as well as bringing in fresh faces.

North End manager Alex Neil said: “First and foremost we need to retain the majority of the squad that we have currently got.

“That is absolutely crucial, get them on longer deals and make our intentions known that we want to try and push in to the top six.

“There are a few positions that we need to improve and help, bolster the squad. We need a bit of strength in depth.

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“Am I looking for five or six players? No. What I’m looking for is probably two or three quality players.

“If we can add that, I don’t think we will be far away.”

With regards the players’ summer break, Neil has told the PNE squad to be careful with holiday plans.

He doesn’t want them going to countries where they might have to quarantine on their return.

Neil said: “The simple fact is wherever they might go they have to be available for training on the date required.

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“Some of the places you might have to quarantine when you come back and that would be no good for our lads when they are supposed to be training.

“It’s not a long break they have, it’s important they get some rest.”