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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Sam Meade

Soccer Saturday could be scrapped despite Premier League return

Soccer Saturday may not be returning to our screen due to the coronavirus according to host Jeff Stelling.

The Sky Sports results show has not been aired since March due to the postponement of the football season.

Premier League football will now restart on June 17 with two midweek fixtures before the first round of games at the weekend.

But that doesn't mean the long running show will return with Stelling admitting he is unsure as to whether the current fixture list lends itself to the program.

"I honestly don't know at the minute," Stelling told the Express.

"Obviously with the return of the Premier League that is some encouragement but that wouldn't be enough for Soccer Saturday to return."

There's no guarantee Jeff Stelling and co will be back (Sky Sports)

"We are reliant on a number of games and the best hope is that the Championship does and that those games are going to be on Saturdays,"

"If it is then I assume that we'll be back that weekend although because of the way the show is we are reliant on floods of scores from Leagues One, Two, the National League and Scotland, it will be a different show."

Fixtures have been arranged so that more games can be broadcast live on TV.

Premier League fixtures will be returning on June 17 (ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The lack of lower league football further limits the amount of games that will take place in the traditional Saturday 3pm slot.

Stelling, who hosts the show alongside regulars such as Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson and Phil Thompson, also concedes the need to adhere to social distancing presents challenges.

He added: "There are logistical issues as well in the sense that we have a panel of four plus me and if we are all to socially distance during a show, two meters each, then some people are going to be sitting in the corridor.

"We have got camera men and floor managers so there would be logistical issues.

"Bringing the boys down from various parts of the country. I'm sure we could get them there but there is nowhere for them to stay at the moment.

"There will be a way around it I'm sure. I would hope we would return at the end of the month but there are no guarantees at all."

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