The Coronavirus pandemic has presented a confusing situation for the football world, with the professional leagues being suspended and all leagues positioned under the National League being void.
In a joint statement from the Premier League, EFL and the FA, it was highlighted that all footballing authorities are “united in (their) commitment to finding way of resuming the 2019/20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.”
Euro 2020 has been postponed in order to create space in the calendar for the completion of the ongoing club competitions, but it remains unclear what will happen to the youth level of football.
A Spanner in the Works
With Dmitri Halajko’s side perched at the top of the PL2 Division 2 table, the outbreak of this virus could not have come at a worse time, as they looked to consolidate their season with promotion into the PL2 Division 1.
If it is decided that the league will finish at its current stage, The Irons will be automatically promoted into the PL2 Division 1, from where they were relegated last season. The Premier League are yet to release a statement detailing what will happen to football at a youth level, as their main focus seems to be accommodating for the professional game as quickly as possible.
Not only are The Hammers in the running for the PL2 Division 2 title, in their most recent match, they had beaten a strong Derby County U23s side to progress into the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup. There is yet to be a statement released explaining what will happen to the cup competition in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Loaned Players
With many of The Hammers’ youth players being out on loan, there are many questions that remain to be answered for the players serving these loan spells.
Should the season continue in the summer, it is expected that players such as Conor Coventry and Dan Kemp would be offered a short-term extension in order for them to complete the season at their loaned clubs.
However, if the season is declared null and void, it is probable that all loan contracts will be terminated and the players will return to their parent clubs.
It’s a confusing time for loan players, as it stalls their progress in adapting to professional football and it adds to the uncertainty of their future at their current clubs.
The Club’s Reaction
West Ham as a club have remained relatively quiet over the last few weeks in regards to their plan moving forward, as everything remains up in the air due to the virus still being so prominent.
We are yet to hear anything from Halajko, but as time goes on, we can expect to be kept updated with the plan of the club and the relevant footballing authorities, as we all hope our beloved football will return soon.
