Dons chief: Fans could be back by November

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has offered some optimism about football being played in front of fans before the end of the year.

The Scottish Professional Football League is hoping the 2020-21 Premiership season can kick off as scheduled on the weekend of 1-2 August but it has been speculated that all matches could be played behind closed doors until January.

Cormack, however, believes “partial crowds” could return by November or December.

In a message to Aberdeen fans posted on the club’s website, he welcomed plans by the SPFL and Sky Sports for “virtual season tickets” to allow fans to watch broadcasts of their club’s home games when the top-flight resumes.

He also suggested that a package to include away games was being looked at, hinting at wider discussions across the league, and spoke of his hopes for fans returning to Pittodrie.

“Under this deal AFC will be able to offer virtual access to season ticket holders for all closeddoor home games and will continue to work with our colleagues at fellow Premiership clubs to explore potential arrangements to show away games,” said Cormack. “We’re really excited about getting back to training later this month with a view to closed-door games kicking off at the start of August and, whilst we appreciate we are operating under ever-changing circumstances, we’re preparing, and hoping, to return to Pittodrie with partial crowds from November or December and full crowds in January 2021.”

Scottish football’s Joint Response Group met with national clinical director Professor Leitch and sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick last Friday.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster stated the Government had given the green light to resume football training in June, with a Premiership kick-off of 1 August now a “firm target”.

However, Leitch later cautioned that 1 August is a very provisional date for football’s return.