Premier League clubs could be allowed to finish the season in their own stadiums, which would hand a major boost to Project Restart.
Despite being handed the green light to return to action from June 1 on Monday, an agreement over the current proposal to play out the remaining 92 games in neutral stadiums has proven unpopular.
The Premier League needed 14 clubs to agree to the current proposal but Premier League chief executive Richard Masters confirmed they would be seeking government approval to scrap that plan.
Masters said: "Obviously it is the preference of all our clubs to play at home if at all possible. But all must be cognisant of what authorities are telling us and we will continue with that conversation.
"It is an ongoing dialogue. We are in contact with the authorities and listening to advice while representing club views in those discussions."
Now, the police chief in charge of English football says a "positive meeting" has been held with government officials about finishing the Premier League season with home and away fixtures.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, in a statement to the PA news agency, said: “Following a positive meeting between police, government and football last night, we will be jointly exploring a range of options to identify a way forward, which minimises any risks to public safety and unnecessary pressure on public services, but facilitates a sensible restart to the season, to support the economic and morale benefits associated with the sport.”
It's believed that as long as clubs can provide assurances to their local constabularies that they will draft in enough stewarding resources to ensure that the two-metre social distancing guidelines are adhered to, completing the season on a home and away basis is not viewed as an insurmountable obstacle.
Should that be the case, and should the clubs be willing to foot the bill to pay for the officers required, playing matches at their original venues would be possible.
