Albion have suspended group training until further notice in response to the latest Government advice amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Club made the decision shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a new wave of measures and advice to the nation yesterday evening.
The players have all been given individual programmes to follow during this period which will be monitored and checked by the technology and specialist staff at the Baggies' disposal.
But Slaven Bilić had no hesitation placing the well-being of the players, the staff, their families and the public ahead of football considerations as the game’s governing bodies meet this week to try to establish a future resolution to the domestic and international programmes currently frozen.
Slaven explained: “After the decision to postpone the game against Birmingham City, we met to discuss what we needed to do and at that point, we had to prepare as if we had our own nine-game World Cup beginning in April. We had to be fit and ready for when the programme resumed.
“The players reported normally for training yesterday and we met with the doctors for 40 minutes to ask our questions and establish as much information as possible. We then trained normally and the players were extremely professional.
“But after the Prime Minister’s new guidelines for the country last night, it was clear we needed to address the issue of group training again. I spoke with my staff and the doctors and decided that we could not gamble with the well-being of the players, my staff and their families.
“We had to follow the advice of the government and this is what we have done. This will remain the situation until further notice.
“Obviously, it would be the best solution for football if, at some point in the future, the fixtures can be re-arranged for the season to be concluded. But there are far bigger issues at stake here than mere football matches and we all know that.”
Head of Sports Science and Performance Nick Davies has overseen the individual programmes for players and said: “This is a ‘maintenance phase’ for the players and with the technology we have at our disposal and the specialist staff, we will be able to monitor their condition effectively.”
