After yesterday's conference call between it's club's, the Premier League has put in place it's intended schedule to complete the season.
The Premier League is pencilling in June 11th as the date that it will restart the season and will then look to complete the remaining matches in a five week period, but it has reiterated that the season will not resume until the government declares it is safe to do so.
With the latest lockdown period in place until May 7th the club's are being told to work to a plan that they could be allowed to resume training shortly after that date and that would give them a four week period to get their squads fit for the restart.
Initially training could be controlled to keep players apart and without physical contact and it and all squads will be tested for the corona virus ahead of the start.
They would then be asked to play the remaining 9 games in a five week period, this would be gruelling, but in reality not much more than happens at various stages of the normal season when it is not uncommon for teams to play 7 games in that period.
It is thought that given the rest period the players would have had by then they will be rested enough and refreshed to be able to play this burst of games in a short time before then having another rest before the season starts.
Games will initially at least be played behind closed door and with all players, coaches and match officials having been tested for coronavirus.
These protocols would only be adopted when tests are more readily available to key workers and the public.
The hope would be that at least some of the matches will eventually be able to be played in front of a crowd, but again it could be that attendances are limited to season ticket holders only to help reduce potential contact between fans, for Saints that would perhaps mean 19,000 or so in the stadium less than 2/3 of the stadiums capacity.
The next Premier League shareholders' meeting is on May 1, when the situation will be assessed once again, by then the picture will be far clearer and perhaps dates will be revised, but for now it is important to have a strategy in place, albeit a fluid one that can be changed and revised as the situation dictates.
UEFA wants all domestic leagues to be completed by August if possible so it can hold the Champions League final in Istanbul on August 29.
The final was due to take place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on May 30 but, under one of the new proposals which UEFA will discuss next week, the final would be moved to Saturday, August 29 at the same venue.