FA chairman Greg Clarke has admitted it is hard to see fans returning to football any time soon.

If the sport is to return to complete the Premier League and EFL seasons then all matches will have to be played behind closed doors to maintain social distancing measures.

Clarke said supporters are the ‘lifeblood’ of the game but admitted the game faces ‘substantial changes’.

‘The reality is that we just don’t know how things are going to pan out,’ he wrote in a letter to the FA governing council.

‘But with social distancing in place for some time to come we do face substantial changes to the whole football ecosystem.

‘For example it’s hard to foresee crowds of fans – who are the lifeblood of the game – returning to matches any time soon.’

Clarke added that the ongoing uncertainty means that the board has agreed a ‘sensible’ £75million budget cut.

He said: ‘In a worst-case scenario, this would be necessary for the next four years to offset a £300m deficit.’

Top-flight clubs were told on Friday that using up to 10 neutral stadiums will be the only way to complete the season.

But Brighton are against the proposal, claiming it would affect the ‘integrity’ of the league.

Others are thought to be in favour of playing at neutral grounds but without the threat of relegation.