Nottingham Forest could yet be playing in the Premier League next season but part of their preparations will be looking ahead to when the 2020-21 Championship season will start.
Sabri Lamouchi 's side return from a three-month break enforced by the coronavirus pandemic next weekend hoping to secure their play-off place and a chance at ending a two-decade exile from the top flight.
Covid-19 has put Forest out of action since March 6, when they were beaten 3-0 by Millwall at the City Ground.
They're set to return on Saturday when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday (3pm) and they have nine matches to cement their spot in the top six, with five points separating them from Bristol City in seventh.
If the unthinkable does happen and Forest don't storm the play-offs and secure promotion, they could return to action in the second tier at the end of August.
That's according to Rotherham boss Paul Warne, whose side were just promoted to the Championship after League One voted to end their season last week.
Writing in a column for website The Athletic : "It looks like next season's Championship might begin at the end of August, which would mean almost six months between competitive matches.
"It would be naive to think a normal six-week pre-season will suffice, so we’ll probably come back on July 1."
As far as Leagues One and Two are concerned, Warne is worried about the impact playing matches without crowds will have.
That was one of the main factors behind curtailing the season early.
"I'm sure League One and League Two can handle their return when it comes but it pleases me we didn't come back now, because it got to a stage where if we had finished the season off we would've also finished clubs off," he added.
"There will need to be some sort of financial aid because until you get fans through the door, how can you pay for everything you need to get back playing?
"No one has thrown their keys in yet but it does worry me. If crowds aren't allowed back until the new year, there is going to be trouble."
City finished five points clear of Rotherham, who had a three-point buffer to third place when play was stopped.
Forest are joined in the top six by Fulham, Brentford and Preston North End.
