September 12 start date for Leeds United, Sheffield United, Barnsley, Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Bradford City

The Premier League, Championship, Leagues One and Two have decided to restart their seasons on the second Saturday of September. It means the start of next term will be behind closed doors, which could be an issue for clubs in Leagues One and Two, who voted to end their 2019-20 campaigns because finishing them that was was not considered cost effective after the covid-19 outbreak.

Yorkshire's clubs should at least get six weeks' break, which is a luxury some leading teams may not have.

The Championship season finished on Wednesday, and the final round of Premier League fixtures are on Sunday. League Ones and Two have not played since March 7.

There have been no Yorkshire teams involved in the Football League play-offs, although Harrogate Town and York City are involved at National League level. If Harrogate can beat Boreham Wood on Saturday, they will play at Wembley on August 2 for the right to appear in next season's League Two.

The transfer window opens on Monday.

The timetable could be much tighter for those clubs involved in the Champions League and Europa League, with the finals on August 23 and 21 respectively. Manchester City and Chelsea (the latter with a 3-0 deficit to overturn against Bayern Munich) are in the last 16 of the Champions League, and Manchester United are due to meet Wolves in the Europa League semi-final if both progress to it.

The clubs are said to have asked for their 2020-21 campaign to be delayed if they reach the quarter-finals, but no decision has yet been reached.

A three-week break is the minimum required in most playing contracts.

England are due to play Nations League games on September 5 and 8.

The 2020-21 Football League is due to finish on May 9, with the play-offs on the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of the month. The Premier League campaign is scheduled to conclude on May 23 ahead of the delayed European Championships.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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James Mitchinson

Editor