June 20th?

Last week Charlton players returned to group training for the first time for 11 weeks. Week one of a planned four-week mini pre-season was non-contact with the players in small groups of five working on three different pitches. Lee Bowyer had 25 players back, everyone was tested and all results came back negative.

The three players who didn’t return were loanees Matt Smith and David Davis, and Tomer Hemed, who by all accounts will return from his home in Israel.

Next week players start contact training, week three will be more tactical and then the week before the proposed resumption of the season onJune 20th, will be more match preparation and physical set-play work.

Each of the returning got players were tested and were negative to Covid-19, those tests will become twice-weekly.

Steve Gallen was interviewed in The Athletic (behind a paywall unfortunately) but spoke more of plane to resume league football than any other member of one of the The Championship’s teams. Gallen also said that the Addicks have lined you two ‘pre-season’ friendlies. One against a Premier League team and one from lower down the pyramid. West Ham and Colchester have been mentioned. Colchester would hope to be participating in the League Two play-off’s.

So, it’s all back on then? I don’t know there seems to be a lot more boxes to be ticked particularly in regards to players’ contracts.

Clubs are due to meet again a week tomorrow.