SAINTS would be open to finishing the season at a neutral venue – but only if it wasn’t a drain on public services and the scientists say it’s safe to do so.

Premier League officials are due to meet on Friday to discuss plans on how they can complete the campaign.

One of the suggestions being touted is for teams to play a series of matches at a neutral ground such as Villa Park, for example, while staying in a sanitised hotel before returning home.

The clubs would then spend a week at their own base before going off to another venue and repeating the sequence.

And the Daily Echo is led to believe that Saints wouldn’t be averse to that idea, although it’s worth noting it won’t be a decision made by them.

Premier League sides are naturally cautious about what their finances will look like if the season has to be cancelled.

National papers have reported that just over £750million would have to be paid back to TV companies if the current campaign is cancelled.

This would obviously create a far larger dent in business models across the top flight compared to losing out on matchday income from playing at home.

The idea of playing at a neutral ground, without any fans present, would limit the exposure to Covid-19.

The coronavirus is continuing to spread at a rapid rate across the UK which last week led to Prime Minister Boris Johnson placing the country in lockdown.

The Government also prevented non-essential workplaces from opening, so would have to ease that restriction if the Premier League season is going to come to its natural conclusion.

Tottenham chief Daniel Levy recently caused a stir in the media when it was revealed that his side had placed a large quantity of their non-playing staff on furlough, which sees the Government paying 80 per cent of salaries.

Levy said: “When I read stories about player transfers this summer like nothing's happened, people need to wake up to the enormity of what's happening around us. Football cannot operate in a bubble.

"We ourselves made the difficult decision – in order to protect jobs – to reduce the remuneration of all 550 non-playing directors and employees for April and May by 20 per cent utilising, where appropriate, the Government’s furlough scheme.”

It’s worth noting, though, that statements like this will apply pressure to the football federations and UK Government to try and force them into making a decision regarding this season’s future.

West Ham’s vice-chairman, Karren Brady, also received criticism for coming out and saying the 2019/20 campaign should be declared “null and void”.

However, she made a U-turn on those comments in her latest column for The Sun and made it clear she wants to see the season finished.