OPINION: Suspending the season is basic common sense

It therefore came as a slight surprise last week when the latest update from the footballing authorities – shock horror – actually resembled some sort of common sense.

The EFL, in following the Premier League’s lead, has sensibly agreed to scrap the April 30 return date, which everyone knew from the start would never be realised.

While June or July now appears to be the target date, I’d be surprised if we witness any football – either in person or via a stream with games being played behind closed doors – this side of August or September.

There is simply no justification in getting games of football played any time soon when the death rate continues to skyrocket.

How can we continue to applaud our inspirational NHS workers, only to take an ambulance and emergency staff away from the frontline – as would be required – if and when games are to return? It would be hypocrisy at its finest.

Those in charge can put as many plans down as they like but the truth is that football won’t return – or shouldn’t at least – until the lockdown has been eased and coronavirus has disappeared.

How can we expect the general public to continue to abide by social distancing rules when 22 footballers are allowed to run around a pitch, often colliding and coming into close contact.

Nevertheless, it’s still encouraging to see the FA, the EFL and others working collaboratively – it’s long overdue. But is there a great deal they can decide among themselves? Surely they will just follow whatever directives they receive from UEFA and FIFA to ensure our domestic leagues align with the rest.

A lot has been made of the Premier League’s £125m “donation” to clubs in the EFL and National League that will be left cash-strapped – if they’re not already – by the current lockdown.

Except it’s not a gift at all, it’s just an advancement on the cash they would have received at a later date in solidarity payments, parachute club payments and academy grants.

Clubs like Blackpool still ought to be grateful as it might help them through some rocky spells in the short-term. But how long will the cash last?

Will it just be a case of delaying the inevitable, some clubs going to the wall later in the year when the advanced funds were originally due?

I suppose that’s an issue for a later date. For now, clubs – especially those without rich owners who are able to offset any losses in matchday revenue – will be living day-by-day, desperately scraping by.

A lot has been discussed and debated over the past week about Premier League footballers and what they ought to be doing to help.

It started, somewhat predictably, with Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United furloughing non-playing staff, swiftly followed by Tottenham, despite chairman Daniel Levy taking a £3m bonus for delivering the club’s new stadium.

The greed at that level is unimaginable, most owners live in a moral vacuum. But for the players to take the brunt of the blame is missing the point entirely.

I’ve no doubt the vast majority of footballers, even those at the top end, will be more than happy to take a pay cut to help elsewhere.

For Harry Kane to be paid £200,000 a week simply can’t be justified when staff have already been temporarily let off.

The government scheme, as well-intentioned as it is, was not set up for million-pound and, in some instances, billion-pound football clubs to take advantage of.

The PFA has inevitably got involved and, in some respects, quite rightly too, it is their duty to look after the players they represent after all. Weeks of negotiations and talks are not required, it reflects badly on them at a time of national crisis.

Players in the top flight, earning an average of £70,000 a week, should be the first to concede they don’t need all that cash.

A donation of £20m to the NHS is, again, welcome, but it barely scrapes the surface.

Last week was a massive PR own goal for Premier League footballers, through no real fault of their own.

However, when dozens upon dozens of ordinary backroom staff are furloughed, and you’re seen to be arguing among yourselves, it doesn’t reflect particularly well.

Footballers, especially those at the top end that earn eye-watering salaries, are easy targets at times like these.

You could see the glee in Matt Hancock’s face when he publicly slapped them down. Their response needs to be quick but, more importantly of all, hit the right tone.