What Preston North End are doing during shutdown to keep in touch with players

Preston North End are in constant touch with their players who are training at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
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It is not a case of leaving them to their own devices, with the squad having to make contact on a daily basis.

At the moment the players are working at home until April 6, doing individually tailored fitness and strength programmes.

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That is a target date for a return to squad training and is in line with many clubs in the EFL and Premier League.

Peter Ridsdale (above) is the advisor to club owner Trevor HemmingsPeter Ridsdale (above) is the advisor to club owner Trevor Hemmings
Peter Ridsdale (above) is the advisor to club owner Trevor Hemmings

However, that is under constant review and subject to medical advice.

Peter Ridsdale, advisor to North End owner Trevor Hemmings, told the Lancashire Post: “Every day the players have to contact our club doctor.

“As a club we have to put together a daily register for the EFL.

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“You have to report how every player is, whether they are healthy, showing symptoms or is self-isolating.

“Every club is doing that because the EFL want to build a picture of the state of play everywhere so they can start to plan for an eventual return.

“They are trying to see when clubs will have their strongest squads available.

“It is a sensible monitoring process and simple to do.”

As Hemmings’ right-hand man at Deepdale, it is Ridsdale’s job to try and steer North End through the current health crisis.

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He is in regular contact with the football authorities as a timetable is worked out for the game to resume.

Said Ridsdale: “With no matches being played it doesn’t look like there is much going on.

“Behind the scenes though, there is a lot happening.

“Calls are being made all the time to other clubs and the EFL – we are all trying to work things out.

Alex Neil and the owner are in regular touch with me.

“This is a tough time for everyone but one we will come through.

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“We are all looking forward to the time when we can get back to playing football and we have to plan for that.”

Some longer-term planning still has to be done, even though the priority is getting this season played to a proper conclusion.

There are players nearing the end of their contracts and others who will soon to be going into their final year.

One of the decisions will involve which of the current crop of second-year scholars are to be offered pro deals.

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Ridsdale said: “Myself, Alex and academy manager Nick Harrison had a meeting last week about that.

“We have until the third Saturday of May to make a decision on that front.

“So that is something we can return to.”