“Next week we are going to be discussing full contact training protocols,” he said.

“Once you know when you can start full contact training and we have had a proper discussion with clubs about how much is required to create the fitness levels before they can start playing we are then in a position to be able to confirm when the season start is.

“So we haven’t changed the start date, we have to be flexible about it. What we don’t want to do is continually move that start date.

“So we haven’t changed it, we need to be flexible and acknowledge we are in a step by step process.”

A Premier League statement on Monday read: “Premier League Shareholders today voted unanimously to return to small-group training from tomorrow afternoon, the first step towards restarting the Premier League, when safe to do so.

“Step One of the Return to Training Protocol enables squads to train while maintaining social distancing. Contact training is not yet permitted.