ON CALL

Celtic chief Peter Lawwell to join SPFL & SFA for new season talks with Scottish Government

CELTIC chief Peter Lawwell will join the SFA & SPFL in talks with the Scottish Government over the start date for next season.

Hoops supremo Lawwell will make up part of the SPFL delegation alongside Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor to give a club perspective on the Covid-19 shutdown.

The SFA and SPFL are expected to propose an August 1 date for the start of the new season to ensure the terms of the £125million Sky Sports broadcasting deal are met.

The Times also report representatives from the Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish horse racing will also join the Zoom conference on sport in Scotland.

SFA chief Ian Maxwell and Neil Doncaster from the SPFL are set to present a detailed proposal to Health and Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick and National Clinical Director Jason Leitch.

It's hoped it will allow for a return of domestic football after last season was cut short amid the Covid-19 crisis.

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The six to eight week plan will reveal a return-to-training protocol based on medical advice before the season begins.

Players and officials would face tests for coronavirus twice a week, as clubs to follow a social distancing programme and individual training building up to full contact training.

The SFA will lift the suspension of Scottish football IF the Scottish Government are convinced by the new report.

If the Scottish Premiership season is agreed to start again in August it could lead to a Championship return in October with an 18-game season.

League One and Two clubs face a longer wait with clubs told testing procedures would cost between £3,000 and £5,000 per week, despite no gate income from matches.