Premier League clubs have been told that the 2020-21 season must start by the first week of September at the latest.

The deadline puts huge pressure on the Premier League to eventually make a decision over the completion of this season and means, effectively, that they cannot resume playing any later than July.

The Premier League still remains hopeful that the season can start again on the week beginning June 8, although that is dependent on Government advice and lifting the current coronavirus restrictions. That was the over-riding message from the latest video-conference meeting involving the 20 clubs, on Friday morning.

The clubs discussed the issue of how players will return to training, with one plan being for them to initially work in pairs for an hour at the training ground having got changed in their cars to minimise the contact. Clubs are expected to be told they will have three weeks from when the Government gives the go-ahead for them to be allowed to train to playing matches which will be behind closed doors.

The issue of having to finish the season by June 30 was not formally raised despite nine clubs having privately expressed their desire to complete the remaining 92 games by that date because of the “contract chaos”, as one source put it, which would occur if they played into July. If the season is extended beyond June there is a possibility clubs will lose players before fixtures are concluded.

The clubs decided it was not the right time to discuss it, given the lockdown has been extended for three more weeks, but there was acknowledgement that the issue of contracts with players, coaches, sponsors and commercial deals which are due to expire on at the end of June will soon need to be addressed by the Premier League.

A keen interest is being taken in how the Bundesliga is preparing to re-start fixtures with players in Germany having returned to training in the hope that games can be played in May without spectators.

The Premier League stressed that football cannot begin again, of course, until the Government eases restrictions which have been extended until May 7. At the same time it appears that, as with Germany, football will not be regarded as a special case by the Government with its return also dependent on the roll out of mass testing.

Premier League staff have been working with club doctors to draw up a series of protocols that will allow football to return in a “safe and appropriate” manner and safeguard against the spread of the virus. Key to that would be testing and the Premier League is keen not to take resources away from vital services. The use of testing would require Government support.