Hoops Head Coach Bradley happy to get football back on

Shamrock Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley welcomed the announcement from the FAI on Tuesday of the resumption of the League of Ireland on 31 July.

The Hoops have both their Premier and First Division team’s back training for the last couple of weeks and Bradley’s top flight team will be looking to build on their excellent start to the 2020 campaign having won five out of five before the COVID-19 break. 

“I’m happy that we finally have a date, that we have something to work towards now and happy that we can get football back on,” said Bradley.

“Everybody is training hard and looking forward to getting back. Now that we have a date it is great for the players because they are now training with an end in sight. Everyone is fit; we have one or two little knocks, impact injuries but nothing serious.

“We have been training like we would normally and the players have worked extremely hard. We obviously had to change how we approach training in things like making sure that sanitising and temperatures are right but other than that everything has been normal for us.”

“We are ready to go, we’re training hard and we are delighted there’s been a date put out (for a restart). We are looking forward to it”

If Rovers are to retain their FAI Cup crown, it will see them having to extend their season into November as the FAI confirmed that the quarter-finals of the cup will take place after the conclusion of the league.

The Hoops are planning on giving an update this week on fan access to games and whether it will be possible to attend in person within Covid restrictions or through live match streaming options that may become available.

Quinn confirms FAI Cup arrangements as football set to return https://t.co/EfvWMfsVtcpic.twitter.com/6tb3rmF2K1

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) June 30, 2020