Plans to start the new Scottish football season on August 1 will be discussed today (Friday).
The SPFL and the Scottish FA will set out their vision to sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick ahead of a restart behind closed doors.
It emerged last weekend that SFA chiefs were hoping matches could be played in August. Ian Maxwell said they were planning of a best case scenario which would see training resume around 18 June – the date 'phase two' of the government lockdown route map could be implemented.
Players would then need around six weeks of training to get themselves ready for the new season.
The Daily Mail reports that the August target has been set with the start of the new five year broadcasting contract with Sky Sports, which is worth £125million, set to get underway.
The Betfred Cup group stages were due to start in July, but this will of course be pushed back due to the lockdown.
Earlier this month SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster spoke about the "particular challenges" facing the competition next season.
He told Sky: "Clearly the Betfred Cup, which is due to commence in the middle of July with a group stage, that is a particular challenge, particularly around the involvement of part-time clubs.
A number of part-time clubs are unable to be up and running because they can’t accommodate playing behind closed doors and that’s going to be a particular challenge for the League Cup.
"We’ll work with our other partners for that competition, including Betfred, to try and find a way to do that as well."
