Sheffield United become final club to close training ground
United cancelled training on the advice of the PFA
Written by Simon Austin — March 24, 2020
SHEFFIELD UNITED have become the final Premier League club to close their training ground because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Several clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, closed their training centres as soon as the Premier League postponed the season on Friday March 13th.
However, Blades manager Chris Wilder has kept his players training as normal, even as advice from the government about the need for social distancing has ramped up.
The club's first team players reported to their Shirecliffe training base as normal on Monday, but were sent home after being given personalised training plans. They also had Wattbikes delivered to their homes in order to maintain fitness levels during the forced hiatus.
It is understood that United's decision was made following discussions with the PFA, who advised that players should no longer be called in for training.
Last night Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country on lockdown, saying people should only leave their homes for essential work, exercise or to collect medicine and groceries.
Although the Premier League and Football League have postponed the season to April 30th at the earliest, there has been no formal guidance about club training.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne revealed last week that his side had been in discussions with United about playing a behind-closed-doors friendly, but that that idea was shelved on Football League advice. The Blades did, however, play an in-house friendly at Shirecliffe last Thursday.
"I told them to go out and enjoy it - it might be the last time they play for a while," the manager said.
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