How many Hartlepool United supporters could be let into Victoria Park next season as manager Dave Challinor gives his thoughts

It is hoped that the 2020-21 season will start in September with discussions ongoing regarding spectators attending matches safely.

Premier League and Championship football has returned behind closed doors but this is not seen as a viable option for non-league sides.

And AFC Fylde owner David Haythornthwaite revealed that discussions are taking place regarding stadiums operating at one-third of their maximum capacity for when National League football resumes.

He also added that away supporters are unlikely to be allowed into grounds, which could pose further logistical issues.

In Pools’ case, Victoria Park has a maximum capacity of 7,865 – one-third of that would allow 2,595 fans to watch the team live if the league decides to go ahead with the proposal.

But Pools’ average attendance last season was 3,355, meaning almost 1,000 fans would be missing out on average.

On fans returning to stadiums, Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor said: “I don't envisage we’ll start without fans.

“Providing things move forward in the way they have, it’s been spoken that around 25-per-cent to one-third capacity could be in place initially.

"If that’s the case then our ground is still looking at over 2,000 people which will give us some form of income.

"The difficulty with that is how you go about picking those 2,000 fans because we’ve had a whole lot more than 2,000 season ticket holders in the past and I know that the supporters are doing a lot of work through various means to support the club as best as possible.

"It would be difficult, don’t get me wrong but I think that everyone knows that the income of having spectators in the ground, especially in our division, is pivotal. We rely on the season ticket money to get the club through the first six months of the year.

"Fundamentally, we want everyone back in the Vic and helping us win games so we can recapture that momentum we had towards the back end of last season and into the new season, which will hopefully be a successful one for us.”