Granted that the remainder of this Premier League campaign will be behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the hint of a silver lining possibly breaking through the dark clouds that had been gathering over the last 3 months is the latest news that the Premier League clubs believe there is a genuine chance of fans being allowed back into stadiums to usher in the start of next season.
However, fans would have to be in greatly reduced numbers to allow some degree of social distancing but the hope is that stadiums will have supporters back by September.
All the league’s 20 clubs are hopeful that this can be done in stages as they agreed in principle that the 2020/21 season will kick off on the weekend of September 12 and 13.
While it was not discussed in any detail at Thursday’s Premier League meeting, Mirror Sport understands there is a growing confidence that some fans will be allowed in next season, while the remainder of this season will still be played out behind closed doors with a maximum of 300 games-related personnel allowed in to each game which includes players, managers, officials and broadcasters.
Stadiums will be under strict supervision and large chunks of bottom tiers of stadiums will even be closed off with clubs able to show their club badges in the wrap-around material.
But no fans are allowed in which impacts on gate receipts, stadium sponsorship deals and fans being allowed back in when safety and health concerns are still the main priorities for clubs already struggling because of the financial crisis.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has already admitted he is hopeful that some fans will be allowed in next season.
When asked last week by Sky, Masters said: “No one knows when matches will move away from the behind-closed-doors model.
“Obviously, it’s right to have contingency plans in place, but there is optimism at the Premier League and at clubs that we will start to see fans back in the stadiums next season, and it may happen on a phased basis.”