Exclusive: Ex-England chief Adrian Bevington delivers verdict on governing body decisions following coronavirus outbreak

After all professional matches in the UK were postponed until at least April 3, the EFL and Premier League are holding more discussions this week to try and resolve the suspended season.

It comes after UEFA’s decision to delay EURO 2020 by 12 months to help Europe’s domestic leagues fulfil their fixtures.

And Bevington, who worked as Middlesbrough’s head of recruitment until last year, says recent discussions have been commendable.

“I’m very conscious that there has been a huge amount of dialogue going on behind the scenes for a number of weeks now,” Bevington tells the Mail.

“It was publicised a few weeks ago there was going to be a meeting of the various game stakeholders and broadcasters with the government. That took place about two and a half weeks ago now.

“I think we have to be conscious we are dealing with something that is unprecedented here and everybody keeps saying that but it’s a fact.

“It’s not easy for anybody involved, it’s an unenviable task to try and manage the situation so I believe there’s been a very good level of dialogue between all the relevant authorities, including the government to the footballing governing bodies and leagues.

“With regards to UEFA, I’m very conscious that there has been a lot of dialogue there and of course UEFA has a lot of stakeholders from within the English game anyway.”

Some may argue that a decision to postpone England’s domestic leagues should have come sooner, especially when matches looked set to take place last weekend.

That changed when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson Odoi tested positive for COVID-19 last week, incidents which inevitably led to a Premier League and EFL suspension on Friday morning.

Yet Bevington believes the governing bodies have been following experts’ advice to try and make the right decisions.

“I think they have been following expert advice to a strategy that the government and the medical science experts have set out,” he adds.

“We can choose to decide if we agree with that individually or not but as a sports governing body I think you have to be led by the experts.

“If I had been in that position, I would have also followed the advice of the experts.”

After last week’s decision to call off fixtures until the start of next month, clubs are now waiting for further updates about when the season could resume.

“I think it’s a sensible move,” says Bevington when asked about the call to suspend games until April 3. “I don’t think anyone really expects football to be played again on April 3.

“I don’t think at the moment anyone really expects that so I don’t think they are under any real pressure there.

“I also don’t think anyone would come out and say we’re going to play football on May 5 or June 7 because nobody can predict what’s happening. This is a global pandemic as we all know. It’s something that’s affecting everyone in society way beyond sport.

“While sport is obviously very important, there are a number of layers you have to contend with in sport, in terms of the individuals playing, the integrity of the league, the safety and security of supporters and the commercial entities around it, it’s all secondary at the moment.

“They’ve got the ability to take their time, there is no panic for themselves to set a deadline on themselves.”

Like many others, though, Bevington says it’s essential to try and complete the season when safe to do so.

“I personally think it has to be played out to a conclusion,” he adds.

“I think for the integrity of the sport it’s important that we do that whenever that may be, and it’s not about putting a deadline on when that has to be.

“I think we have to then find a way around things like player contracts, transfers that have already been pre-agreed, which isn’t straightforward.

“I think we have seen a lot of collaborative effort from the UEFA meetings that have gone on. These are unique circumstances and people are going to have to come to terms with a level of flexibility to try get things done.”

The issue regarding players’ contracts is one of the many stumbling blocks which clubs could face in the coming months, with most players signing deals until the end of June.

If the season extends beyond then, many clubs will be left with depleted squads unless a resolution is found.

“I think it’s something that’s not straightforward and that’s why it’s important that the stakeholder conversations involve the likes of the PFA and FIFPro,” adds Bevington. “They’ve all got to be part of these working groups that have been established.

“Domestically there has got to be a lot of talking going on to try and find a solution, it isn’t something where people can click their fingers and say yes that’s the outcome.

“It’s going to be a lot of work to reach a solution on this if we need to.

“I think the important thing here is that everyone remains calm and the conversations take place as have been set out.”