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Lockdown ‘shift’ may see football return

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B&Q has been allowed to open 14 stores to trial new social distancing measures. ‘

Signs that Britain is tiring of lock down restrictions, amid suggestions that Government may be preparing to ease some of them, are being reported this afternoon.

It could mean football is going to make a return as part of a red amber and green reopening phase which has been on the media agenda for several days.

As And as we reported yesterday, political ITK Robert Peston predicted on ITV a government agreed ease on the regulations perhaps as early as this weekend.

The Mail reports at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8244719/M25-looks-busier-day.html    pictures taken from the M25, M5 and M4 today show a notably busier picture than in recent days, with a steady stream of cars and vans suggesting some motorists have tired of leaving their wheels in the garage..

And that – it adds – comes as  fast-food giants KFC and Burger King, as well as high street coffee chain Pret, gradually reopen stores across the UK.

It continues: ‘In signs of a Government strategy shift, B&Q has been allowed to open 14 stores to trial new social distancing measures. ‘

Should the government be ready to ease restrictions there appears to be more than a chance that footballers could return to training with a view to kicking off the remainder of the season on June 15.

That would be exactly 12 weeks after the lock down was put in place and always seemed the most likely date for football’s return assuming things flattened out as expected.

That is now happening and it demonstrates why, in the face of much opposition in many areas, the Premier League has been holding onto the hope that the season can be finished.

The noises being reported from some voices in the cabinet are bringing a determination that somehow the economy is set on the move again.

And as an earner of millions worldwide from TV PL football it would be a big surprise if football doesn’t become part of that if the government pulls back from the present position to some extent at least.

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon