Hampden chief Ian Maxwell expects fans will return to Scotland's stadiums well ahead of the UK Government's dire six month timeline.
The phased re-opening of grounds has been delayed in response to a sustained resurgence in Covid-19 cases.
Record Sport this week revealed a breakthrough in talks with the Scottish Government to secure a financial rescue package for the national game.
And now, in a potential further boost to struggling revenue streams, SFA supremo Maxwell believes the re-admittance of fans is closer than anticipated.
He confirmed Holyrood sports minister Joe FitzPatrick was not working to the same timescale as his Westminster counterparts.
Maxwell said after the pair's meeting on Monday: "He was clear on that. He sees potentially something happening much sooner.
"It's obviously dependent on the prevalence of the virus decreasing.
"He is going to come back to us with what that actually looks like, because we need to know what those numbers need to get to before we can allow that just to give everyone clarity."
"The sports minister outlined that he's been in detailed conversations with his UK counterpart around a funding package for sport and under that there will be a Barnett Consequential that comes up to Scotland.
"We were obviously making the case for that money to be diverted into Scottish football to help safeguard the future of the member clubs."
