EFL clubs have been advised to send their players on holiday and told not to restart training until at least the middle of May as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause havoc.
In a letter sent by EFL chairman Rick Parry, Championship, League One and League Two sides have been warned that there will be no time for players to have a break between the end of the season and the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Their aim is to begin playing games behind closed doors at some point in June, with the expectation that it will take just 56 days to finish the season.
That would mean 113 matches would be played during that period, and the season would be completed by August.
The letter also revealed that plans for the play-offs to go ahead as usual - with two-legged semi-finals and a final in each division - are still in place.
However, there is a chance Wembley may not host the finals because 'no decision has been taken on the likely venue as it will depend on the circumstances at play at the time'.
Clubs have been told not to begin training as usual until May 16, although that date may yet change depending on government advice.
In the letter, which has been sent to all EFL clubs, Parry says that they will continue to work with relevant health authorities, and that they are working to mitigate the financial cost of having to play games behind closed doors.
Club officials have also been advised to send players on holiday now in order to fulfill their annual leave obligations, as there is unlikely to be a significant break between the current season ending and the next one beginning.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com