Scottish Premiership planning to begin 2020-21 season on schedule in August

Scottish football has a plan in place to begin the 2020-21 Premiership season on time at the start of August.

The Scottish Government has given the green light for top-tier clubs to resume training in June, according to Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster.

And it is hoped the coronavirus situation in the country – which caused the curtailment of the 2019-20 season – will allow for the next campaign to start on the weekend of August 1-2.

Neil Doncaster is pleased with the latest update (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Doncaster and Scottish Football Association counterpart Ian Maxwell made a presentation to Government officials on behalf of football's Joint Response Group (JRG) on Friday and "recommended lifting the Scottish FA's suspension of football, for the Scottish Premiership only, from June 11".

A JRG statement added: "This will enable Premiership clubs to begin preparations to ensure their training grounds and stadia are equipped to deal with the increased safety measures necessary to create biosecure environments for players and staff, including the ability to undertake the necessary testing procedures and observing stringent training and matchday protocols.

"It will also provide sufficient period for clubs to begin a phased return to pre-season training in line with the Government's phasing programme, beginning with individual sessions and evolving into smaller groups at the appropriate time before entering into full squad training and preparation prior to the scheduled start date.