Premier League optimistic Sheffield United fans could return next season

England's top-flight has announced plans to complete its 2019-20 season between June 17 and July 26, and the FA Cup final has been pencilled in for August 1.

It all depends on Government support and no setbacks in the coronavirus pandemic, but if there are no issues, the Championship is likely to follow suit.

All matches will be played behind closed doors because mass gatherings are not yet permitted and with no vaccine yet developed, it is impossible to say for certain when that will change, but Masters is hopeful the whole of next season will not have to be played without spectators.

"No one knows when matches will move away from the behind-closed-doors model and it is right to have contingency plans in place, but there is optimism at the Premier League and at clubs that we will see fans back in the stadiums next season and it may happen on a phased basis," he said.

"We've got some incredible fans in this country and we all know the Premier League as we know and love it won't be fully back until we have fans back through the turnstiles.”

London cricket venue The Oval is working on plans to open its ground to fans at around a quarter of capacity if it gets the go-ahead later in the summer but Football League clubs have been told not to expect spectators until next year.

All 92 remaining Premier League games this season will be shown on live television, some free-to-air for the first time in the league's history. The games will be shared by the rightsholders Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and the BBC.

It is expected the Championship will make all games that are not on conventional television available via their iFollow service.

The issue of hosting spectators is even more important in the lower leagues, where League Two have already decided the cost of testing and the lack of matchday revenue prevents behind-closed-doors games being a viable option this season, although Bradford City and co are still waiting for the abandonment of the season to be rubber-stamped. League One is still split on the issue, and will vote on it on June 8.

Fans of Sheffield United and Leeds United will be hoping the 2020-21 campaign is a significant one for their clubs.

The Blades have never qualified for Europe but will have two chances if the season has been completed, via the league and the FA Cup. If Leeds can remain in the Championship's top two – they are top with a seven-point cushion to third – they should be playing Premier League football for the first time since 2004 next season.

Neither set of fans will want to miss that.

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