Project Restart is facing a fresh setback after delays to the delivery of crucial testing kits to a number of Premier League clubs.
The centralised Premier League testing programme began being trialled at Wolves earlier this week and many clubs were expecting to be able to test their players and staff on Friday, ahead of a vote on the return to group training at Monday's shareholders' meeting.
Under protocols laid out for the return to training and, eventually, playing fixtures behind closed doors, players and staff must be tested 48 hours before training and matches, with tests twice weekly and paid for by clubs.
Clubs who have seen their kits delayed are not expecting them to arrive until early next week, confirming fears that the resumption of group sessions will have to be pushed back until the end of the week, at the earliest.
The Premier League remain confident that the company providing the tests, Prenetics, can turn around the programme quickly enough to collect swabs from players on Sunday and Monday in order to have some return to training on Tuesday, though clubs fear this is not logistically possible having already seen testing dates pushed back.
A number of leading Premier League players have raised concerns over the protocols, with some seeking justification over the mass testing of squads and staff while frontline workers are still in need of tests.
A number of top-flight clubs, including Tottenham and Brighton, have already begun testing using privately sourced kits, and Harry Kane revealed on Friday morning he wants to return to group training next week after all Spurs players and staff tested negative on Monday.
"The majority of the players are looking forward to playing again whenever it's possible but we want it to be as safe as possible as well," said the England captain.
"We had tests on Monday, all the [Spurs] players and staff had tests and everyone came back negative, which was great."
