Reading FC manager Paul Ince has called on the EFL to introduce an annual winter break.
Following this year’s World Cup in Qatar, which means that Championship clubs are on hiatus until Saturday, December 10, Ince believes that a winter break should be a regular occurrence in England.
“We’ve been crying out for a winter break,” said Ince.
“I know we’re having one next year for a week, but it’s not enough.
“It gives us a lift because once we get back on December 10, it’s full on.
“If you look at the last three or four games before the World Cup we were out on our feet, as a lot of Championship teams were, so it’s a well earned rest.
“It’s unprecedented with the World Cup, it won’t happen again I presume. It’s a case of taking advantage to have a week away.
“All the lads are together having a bond that we have as players and staff. It builds relationships and we’re getting good work into the players.
The Royals squad, other than the three players at the World Cup (Junior Hoilett, Mamadou Loum and Baba Rahman), are at a training camp in Tenerife.
Once Reading return to Championship action, the relentless schedule begins again where they face three games in six days at the back end of December and the start of January.
It will be the third time this season that Reading have had three games in six days which has left Ince unimpressed by the EFL’s scheduling
Ince continued: “We’re here to focus on December 10, it’s not a holiday. It’s about getting the balance right without overdoing it, making sure we are refreshed and ready to go.
“It’s the third time we have three games in six days and some Championship teams haven’t even done it once and I’d like to know why. It’s so unfair and bang out of order.
“They’re tough games with Norwich, West Brom, away at Birmingham so it’s back to the grind again.
“I played in Italy and we had two or three weeks off. It was good to recharge the batteries and then you’re back and ready to go. It reinvigorates you to go back to work.”
