Hearts and Hibs players could be set to return to training from June 11 when the suspension of football is lifted.
The SFA and SPFL Joint Response Group have announced that the Scottish Premiership will return on the weekend August 1 and 2. However, with reconstruction talks ongoing, it remains to be seen if Hearts will be involved in the top flight.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster says that talks with Championship and League One and Two clubs will continue as they look to "gauge their ability to start the season and if so, when".
The joint response group today met with Sport Minister Joe FitzPatrick, and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch, to discuss the resumption of the professional game across the country.
A plan suggesting a three-stage approach was outlined. This is based on a Return to Training, Return to Playing and Return to Supporting.
The first step is to lift the suspension of football for Premiership clubs on June 11, and from then teams will be able to resume training. This is likely to be on a phased approach starting with individual sessions before moving on to smaller groups and then finally full squad training.
Clubs will also,at this point, be able to ensure training grounds and stadiums are fitted with the right safety measures to create "biosecure environments" for players and staff. This includes the ability to undertake testing.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government have given the green light to the resumption of football training in June.
“We now have a firm target of starting the 2020/21 Premiership season on the weekend of August 1 and that’s a major step forward. We will continue working with the Championship, League 1 and League 2 to gauge their ability to start the season and if so, when - which may vary hugely between clubs.
“We clearly welcome the prospect of resuming matches, but we have to take all necessary steps to ensure we can have a sustainable league campaign. That means a safety-first approach, with games initially played behind closed doors and a range of measures to protect players and staff.
"The return of crowds is something we all want to see and we will be working with clubs, Government and medical professionals to return safely to playing in front of fans as soon as we can.”
