Sunderland have reportedly taken four members of staff off furlough leave.
The Black Cats were one of a number of clubs to take advantage of the Government's furlough scheme, topping up salaries to ensure no employee would suffer a pay cut.
All players and backroom staff were placed on leave, with Phil Parkinson and a few other members of staff continuing to work from home.
Now, the Sunderland Echo reports four more members of staff have been removed from the Government scheme. Academy manager Paul Reid, head of education and welfare Don Peattie, head of coaching Lewis Dickman and physical performance coach Nick Allamby are all understood to have returned to work.
EFL clubs have been advised to be "as prepared as possible" in the event of the season being resumed at "short notice".
Rick Parry, EFL chairman and former Liverpool chief, re-iterated the intention to finish the 2019/20 season and revealed progress has been made on player wage cuts and deferrals.
Parry's letter to EFL clubs read: “By advising on mid-May return to training it has inevitably led to speculation that the season will recommence on 6 June - three weeks later.
"No date has been discussed and we continue to work with the Government and agile enough to allow us to be as prepared as possible for a start at relatively short notice. “
