Bristol City

Football

Bristol City shut training ground due to coronavirus outbreak

| 17 November 2020

Bristol City shut training ground due to coronavirus outbreak

Dean Holden's side are due to take on Derby on Saturday.

Bristol City have shut their training ground after an outbreak of coronavirus at the Championship club last week.

The Robins closed their Failand base following "a number" of positive cases and it will not reopen until Thursday, when another round of tests will take place.

That gives Dean Holden's side precious little time to prepare for Saturday's Championship game against Derby.

A statement from the Robins read: "Over the weekend of Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th, several individuals within the Bristol City testing bubble of players and staff displayed Covid-19 symptoms.

Robins manager Dean Holden has seen his preparations for the game with Derby on Saturday severely hampered (Mike Egerton/PA)

"The whole Bristol City testing bubble were subsequently tested, and a number of positive tests were recorded from players and staff.

"Those individuals who tested positive are currently in the 10-day self-isolation period as per Public Health England and EFL updated medical guidance and information, October 2020.

"In consultation with the EFL medical advisors, the club's Failand training ground is closed until Thursday, November 19th.

"There will be another round of testing ahead of training resuming on Thursday, in preparation for the Sky Bet Championship match against Derby County on Saturday, November 21st."

The Robins are fifth in the table and would have been favourites against bottom club Derby, who look set to be under the guidance of an interim coaching team including captain Wayne Rooney following the weekend dismissal of Phillip Cocu.