Leeds United's waiting game continues as aim to finish season remains strong - Angus Kinnear

The specifics around ‘return to play’ remain unclear, other than that there is now a universally shared intent to complete the season.

From a Leeds perspective we have been advised the training cannot resume until May 16 at the earliest, that a minimum of three weeks training will be required before the first competitive game and that the EFL estimate it will take a minimum of 56 days to complete the Championship season, including Play-Offs.

While this provides some granularity to timescales, it remains totally, and quite rightly, dependant on the premise that it is safe to return to football.

On this basis, common sense dictates that our first games are likely to be behind closed doors.

With regard to the topic of responsibility of players to financially step up in the current crisis, it appears that, rather than the debate centring around the needs of all the wealthy sections of society and business to contribute, football has once again been made a scapegoat.

While the absurdity of player wages is generally appreciated, the huge contribution that players make to the treasury through the millions of pounds of monthly income tax deducted at source is in stark contrast to many big business and offshore entrepreneurs.

More importantly, many groups of players have begun to take responsibility and help their clubs and we are immensely proud that our own Leeds United squad was among the first to do so. I know the gesture from our team is currently being replicated by players across the EFL

While it is difficult to take positives from the current climate, we are endeavouring to be optimistic and use the time constructively.

On the injury front, our medical team are focusing on ensuring Jean Kevin Augustin is back to full fitness for the return to play.

There is a belief throughout the club that he will have a critical part to play in the run in and I know JKA is desperate to demonstrate why the club have put so much faith in him.

The resumption in play will probably come too soon for Adam Forshaw, but we are confident that this break means the root cause of his injury issues will have been resolved.

Kiel the groundsman and his team are performing a mid season pitch renovation, allowing them to scarify and top dress the pitch, which will result in a playing surface for the run-in that will be as good August and should facilitate Marcelo’s swashbuckling football that I know we are all missing.

For those in lockdown who need a football fix, the second series of ‘Sunderland till I die’ makes entertaining viewing.

From a personal perspective I empathised with the new management team’s dual challenge of returning a huge club to its former glories, while simultaneously taking part in a fly-on-the-wall documentary and maintaining any semblance of professional credibility.

I also noted with interest the revelation that other Championship CEO’s have their own, club-funded, cryochambers.

On the business side of the club, the majority of our divisions are currently not trading, so to maintain morale and focus, over 50 of the staff at Elland Road have taken the opportunity of self-improvement by taking a distance learning diploma in ‘Leadership in Football’ delivered by our partners at Uninettuno University in Rome.

I am proud that so many of our team are so committed to their professional development, but in a crisis of self-confidence I also signed up to the course, just in case I need to fend off internal competition for my job.

The lack of day-to-day business has allowed the senior management team the time to refine the financial scenario planning for next season.

The release of our 2018-19 accounts this week evidenced that we have been successful in growing our revenues and employed them, along with Andrea’s continued investment, to dramatically strengthen our playing side, while navigating a path on the right side of the league’s Profit and Sustainability limits.

The plan going forward remains ambitious, but one of our potential destinations requires a lot more financial prudence than the other.

While the crisis facing our nation has the potential to damage football in both the short and long term, I remain confident that the spirit within clubs across the leagues from players, staff and supporters will overcome the issues we face and before long we will all be back enjoying the game we love.