Premier League Project Restart: 'Good progress' being made for mid-June return, says Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden

Premier League clubs will vote on a return to training on Monday, with English football having been suspended since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Clubs to vote on training return

"I had some very constructive discussions on Thursday with the FA, the EFL and the Premier League," Dowden told Sky News.

"We are working hard with them to try and get it back, aiming for mid-June, but the number one test if public safety.

"They, like a lot of other sports we are looking at returning behind closed doors, have met with Public Health England several times to look at the safety.

"If we can sort that out then we will look to resume by mid-June. We're making good progress."

Dowden added there are plans for changes to the way some games are broadcast, saying: "As part of that I'm hoping we can have something a bit more ambitious with some more free-to-air matches for people to watch from home because that would be helpful in terms of discouraging people from leaving their home to watch it."

Hearn: Work still to be done

Eddie Hearn has admitted there is still "lots to overcome" in his bid to bring back boxing with a series of shows at his Matchroom headquarters in Essex.

The promoter is planning to stage bouts - including the heavyweight clash between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin - under strict quarantine rules from next month.

Although he said he hoped the sport would return "very soon" he cautioned: "We are starting to put them together now - still lots to overcome but we are on our way."

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