The EFL have announced a restart date of the 20th June for the Championship to begin following the lockdown imposed on all sporting activity in March.

The league have stated that it is a provisional date and is subject to safety and approval but it could mean that Nottingham Forest will begin to re-invigorate their promotion push this month all be it without fans in attendance at the remaining matches which will be played behind closed doors.

The Championship’s last game was played on March 8^th and there are 108 games yet to be played (not including the playoffs) across the division which they hope will be completed on or around 30^th July.

In a statement on Sunday the League said “After discussing various approaches, and, the importance of completing the season in a similar timeline to that of the Premier League to avoid any potential issues with promoted and relegated Clubs, the Sky Bet Championship season is set to conclude with the Championship Play-Off Final on or around 30 July 2020.  Final details are still to be confirmed following further discussions with the League’s Broadcast partner, Sky Sports.”

“The date is subject to the strict proviso that all safety requirements and Government guidance is met; and that Clubs receive clearance from their local authorities in order to stage matches at their home grounds.”

Nottingham Forest are currently fifth in the Championship having disappointingly lost their last league game at home to Millwall 3-0 but with that fixture well and truly forgotten the Reds will be confident that they can go in to their final nine games of the season with everything to play for and secure the points needed to push them further towards their dream Premier League return.

Whilst Leeds and West Bromwich Albion look to be too far ahead in the automatic promotion places, stranger things have happened and non-stranger than the current situation in football with Forest currently ten points adrift of the Baggies concentration would be more likely to keep the likes of Bristol City and those below them in seventh place away so that the Reds can cement a first playoff slot since 2011.

Forest are currently five points better off than the Robins just outside the playoffs with fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday (a), Huddersfield Town (h), Bristol City (h), Derby County (a), Fulham (h), Preston North End (a), Swansea City (h), Barnsley (a) & Stoke City (h) all to play.

*Main image @NFFC Forest celebrate v Leeds United earlier in the season.