Premier League clubs hope fans will be able to attend matches in September

Premier League clubs believe there is a genuine chance of fans being allowed back for the start of next season.

It would have to be in greatly reduced numbers to allow some degree of social distancing but the hope is that stadiums will have supporters by September.

The 20 clubs are hopeful that it can be done in stages as they agreed in principle that the 2020/21 season will kick off on the weekend of September 12 and 13.

While it was not discussed in any detail at Thursday’s Premier League meeting, Mirror Sport understands there is a growing confidence that some fans will be allowed in next term.

The rest of this season will be played out behind closed doors with a maximum of 300 people allowed in to each game which includes players, managers, officials and broadcasters.

Fans could be allowed in by the start of next season (Getty Images)

Stadiums will be under strict supervision and large chunks of bottom tiers of stadiums will even be closed off with clubs able to show their club badges in the wrap around material.

But no fans are allowed in which impacts on gate receipts, stadium sponsorship deals and fans being allowed back in when safe is a huge issue for clubs already struggling because of the financial crisis.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has already admitted he is hopeful that some fans will be allowed in next season.

When asked last week by Sky, Masters said: “No one knows when matches will move away from the behind-closed-doors model.

“Obviously, it’s right to have contingency plans in place, but there is optimism at the Premier League and at clubs that we will start to see fans back in the stadiums next season, and it may happen on a phased basis.”

The Government initially warned that fans may not be allowed in for the whole of next season or until a vaccine is found but other countries in Europe - including Spain - are already making plans to try and get supporters in.

And the mood is also changing in England although the Premier League is clearly reluctant to set any timescale because the United Kingdom has been harder hit by the coronavirus than any other European country.