Newcastle United are understood to be edging closer to resolving their season ticket dispute with supporters.
It is believed that owner Mike Ashley - who hit out at pay per view prices this week - has been in conversations with those that work in the ticketing department at St James' Park.
Fans have had season ticket money taken from their accounts for the 2020/21 campaign despite the season being played behind closed doors.
A portion of fans were expected to be permitted to return at the start of this month with the Premier League keen for the turnstiles to reopened.
St James' Park staff had been prepared for such a possibility with sanitiser dispenser's fitted around the ground and outside turnstiles.
But the government postponed the return date.
It was hoped that up to 10,000 fans would be allowed back in the ground this month but no dates have been issued by the government for the safe return of supporters.
Supporters were refunded for games for behind closed doors at the end of the 2019/20 season back in June.
At Man United, the Red Devils say they are also ready for fans to return to the stadium.
Collette Roche, the club's chief operating officer, said today: "We've got all the COVID security measures and other processes ready to go.
"We spent around two months working with the government guidelines to develop the right processes and measures to make sure that we can have around 23,500 people in this stadium safely social distancing."
In other sports, such as NFL, some clubs have already ensured a section of fans are allowed to return to their seats.
Cleveland Browns are permitting 6,000 fans per home game and Miami Dolphins are allowed 20% of their capacity back through the gates.
