The EFL have reportedly agreed a £5m deal for a coronavirus testing programme in a huge boost to the hopes of the Championship restarting.
With Bristol City sat one place outside the play-offs and the EFL confirming yesterday that their plan should the season not be completed would be to host the play-offs with the teams currently sat between third and sixth, the Robins are understandably keen for the season to resume.
Football Insider report that the EFL have tied up a £5m deal with Hong Kong-based company Prenetics to provide tests to players and staff in order to fulfil fixtures.
Each club will be hit with a bill of more than £200,000 to cover the costs of the deal, which removes a huge hurdle in the plans to restart the Championship season next month.
The deal is £1m more than the Premier League's own testing deal, which is due to the fact more players and more clubs will have to be tested, alongside the fact there are more games left to be played.
A target date of June 6 has been discussed for resuming the season, but it seems more likely that, if the campaign does get back under way, it will actually take place the following week, in line with the Premier League.
As well as Bristol City, the news provides a boost to other clubs fighting for promotion.
With the Premier League's bottom clubs putting pressure on to scrap promotion and relegation should the Championship season not be completed, news of a testing deal is a big boost to top clubs Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.
It is also a benefit to those clubs currently sat in the play-offs, such as Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
Whilst they would still stand to be in the play-offs if the campaign was curtailed, the pressure from the Premier League clubs means there is no guarantee that a winner of the play-offs would be promoted if the season was unable to be completed in full.
