Fleetwood Town owner holds out hope of a return to action

The Town owner was optimistic that Government would support the staging of televised matches behind closed doors, and felt the extension of players’ contracts to cover matches played in July would be manageable.

Speaking to The Gazette last week, Pilley said: “I think the Government will be mindful of wanting maybe to lift the mood, to televise some of these games, and to make the lockdown a little bit easier.”

And he felt arrangements for the broadcasting of fixtures could be made at short notice.

Pilley explained: “Within the EFL, every club has to have a facility whereby you can film games and they can be shown live.

“It’s part of the Sky contract and Sky have put in state-of-the-art fibre in every Football League ground, so the facility is there. We just need the green light.

“We need somebody to say, ‘You’re playing on such and such a day and we need your cameramen to be there.’ It could then be streamed over the internet or on a TV channel.”

The EFL’s bid to complete fixtures over June and July is potentially complicated by the fact many players’ contracts will expire at the end of next month.

Again Pilley feels this hurdle could be cleared without too much difficulty, adding: “There would have to be a mutual agreement between the player and the club, that’s the only sensible way.

“If the player does not want to be at the club or if the club doesn’t want the player, then it’s only right they shake hands and wish each other all the best.

“But if both parties agree, then I would have thought that in these extraordinary times the EFL would be happy to agree a one-month contract extension.”

But however firm his own convictions, Pilley added: “It’s not our decision at all. We will have to be guided by the FA, who will ultimately be guided by the Government.”