Doncaster Rovers: When clubs are hoping to start the 2020/21 season

The current season has yet to be fully decided with EFL clubs set to continue the process of doing so at a meeting on Tuesday.

But there is understood to be growing optimism that whatever happens with the 2019/20 season, the next campaign could commence in September.

The Championship will resume on June 20 and be completed by July 23, with a play-off final expected in early August.

League One and League Two clubs are expected to take part in play-off campaigns also before the end of July.

There had been initial fears that lower divisions on a wider scale could be placed on hold for the remainder of 2020 - largely due to financial concerns over the inability to allow supporters into stadiums within social distancing regulations.

But several club chairmen are optimistic that fans could be back in grounds in reduced numbers in a matter of months.

Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann has revealed he has been working on a strategy for Glanford Park to meet social distancing guidelines on matchdays.

“We are hoping it is September – and there is also talk of some semblance of crowds coming back if we can get our stadium in a position to do that,” he told Scunthorpe Live.

“We will work as hard as we can in the coming months to have something in place so we can keep some sort of distance between the fans.

“At least if we can get 2,000 in, or even 2,500 in, it’s a big help – and that is a possibility. It is something we have really got to look at.

“We have got the car parking space to have one every other space to keep people apart. I am sure we can put barriers up and systems in place so people can into the ground okay.”

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony revealed on his podcast that a start date of the end of September had been hinted at for clubs. MacAnthony said Posh plan to return for pre-season training at the end of July.

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