Lots of Everton fans have been reacting on social media after club icon Kevin Ratcliffe suggested the Premier League season should be scrapped if it cannot be completed by June.
Play is currently on hold until, at least, April 30 as the country continues to try and get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic, which has already seen unprecedented curbs imposed on everyday freedoms to try and combat the spread of the virus.
Doubt remains over if, rather than when, the Premier League campaign will be able to continue, too, with reports suggesting players will soon be told to stop training as an early-May resumption still appears too soon, even if matches were played behind closed doors.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane would support the league deciding to void the 2019/20 campaign if it cannot be completed before the end of June, when certain players around the top-flight would be out of contract.
“I know the Premier League are going to be trying all they can to finish the season, looking at every option possible. For me, I feel we need to try to finish the season, but there needs to be a point where enough is enough,” Kane told Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp on Instagram Live.
“We may have to say, ‘we can’t finish it’. Going into July and August and pushing next season back, I don’t really see too much benefit in doing that. I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and what it means financially for certain clubs.
“From a players’ point of view, let’s try to finish the season, but there needs to be a limit and probably the limit for me is by the end of June.
“If it isn’t completed by the end of June, we should look at the options and look forward to next season, otherwise I feel it will have such a knock-on effect to next year, the Euros, then the World Cup in 2022.”
When Kane’s quotes circulated on social media, Ratcliffe responded with a one-word message, simply saying “agreed”.
How should the Premier League deal with the pandemic?
Null and void the term
Wait to resume play in May
Behind closed doors
Lots of Everton fans likewise “agreed” with the club’s former centre-back, who spent 13 years in the first-team and helped the club to win four Charity Shields following his graduation from the academy.
Here are some of the messages shared from supporters…
Think we’ll be lucky to even start any games by end of June!! 🙁
— Ramon Chow (@SG_Ramon) March 30, 2020
Wise words Harry. Safety first.
— Robbie G (@giddypie) March 29, 2020
Sanity or health must come before vanity ?
— Keith Magwood (@kwrmag) March 29, 2020
End of March I’d say Kev 👍
— RICH (@currill1878) March 29, 2020
Just forget about football. We can watch old matches with a rapid welsh centre half with huge thighs on you tube.
— Paul Albertsen (@AlbertsenPaul) March 29, 2020
I agree but mainly as after June there will be huge issues with player contracts…but who knows if we can start a new season in August at the moment…
— Toffee David (@Toffee_David) March 29, 2020
Of course we agree skipper 🤞
— Simon underwood (@co_underwood) March 29, 2020
— ToffeeMan (@ToffeeM05751186) March 30, 2020
End of March preferably 👍
— Lester🇬🇧🇺🇸J39 (@Lester1878) March 29, 2020
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti is ready to sell a mainstay of his plans at Goodison Park.