Update on season being suspended for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Peterborough, Bristol Rovers and rest of EFL

There are currently no plans to suspend the EFL season.
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Two senior Blues players yesterday tested positive for coronavirus after Jack Whatmough did likewise on Saturday, with his room-mate Ryan Williams currently isolating.

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That is expected to see the Boxing Day clash with Swindon postponed.

The testing of the rest of the squad is continuing today after the club announced their intention to do so, with results expected back on a gradual basis over the next 24 hours.

Pompey’s situation is one echoed at a host of League One clubs including Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Ipswich Town and Peterborough with the fear others could follow suit.

Discussions with the EFL will be expected to take place now moving forward, with the dynamic of the way forward changing all of the time.

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But Catlin explained the current situation is there’s no plans to put the campaign on hold.

He said: ‘I speak to a lot of people in football and once it starts to get a grip within a squad it just seems to spiral out of control.

‘I’m sure that’s replicated through businesses and schools currently throughout the world.

‘There’s no plans that I’m aware in terms of meetings to discuss a possible suspension.

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‘But I have to caveat that, that football, society and the world view on this terrible disease changes daily.

‘Just because last night that wasn’t the case doesn’t mean that won’t be today.

‘I can’t say it won’t loom its head, but at this current time I’ve not spoken to anyone else who’s voicing that opinion.

‘But as we’ve found out the landscape can change drastically within a few hours.

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‘Just a couple of days ago people were looking forward to seeing family and friends over Christmas but can’t see them.

‘Portsmouth’s gone from tier two to tier four.

‘So things change very, very quickly and football’s not exempt from that.’

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