The English Football League could resume as early as June 6 if conditions in the country permit.

That is the view of Forest Green chairman Dale Vince, as the bodies in charge of professional football in England continue talks on how the game can safely resume amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Premier League clubs due to be briefed on various aspects of its 'Project Restart' at a meeting on Friday.

A return to action in June is the target, and Vince said: "June 6 tallies with what I think. I don't think it's going to happen before that and it might still be optimistic to think it happens on that day.

"We're all in the same situation - none of us know because it's not actually in our hands.

"We need to see the situation in the country change - it needs to continue to improve in terms of infection rates and death rates. The ability to test and contact trace is really important to the national recovery and presuming that goes well then there's a chance we can get football back on.

"I would say June 6 is probably the earliest but a number of things have to come together for that to happen, it could easily be a week or two later."

League Two clubs will hold their weekly conference call on Thursday, and Vince says the restart will be the main item on the agenda.

He believes testing will have to be at the heart of any plan to resume.

The Premier League is understood to be funding the cost of testing centrally, but Vince said the issue has not yet been finalised at EFL level, despite a statement last week stating it would be a requirement of the season re-starting. 

"I'm not aware of any conversations around costs. But it's important any testing we do doesn't conflict with any testing in the public realm, particularly of frontline staff. It's important that what we do in football doesn't hinder the general population," he said.

The Premier League is understood to be working on a standardised protocol for the conditions necessary for players to return to training, and Vince believes EFL clubs will adopt the same model.

"I am really sure that we will follow the same model. They are bound to move first, and I am sure that we will adopt the same approach," he said.

"My understanding is players will be driving to training in their kit and they'll be leaving straight away and going home, so there's no changing room congregation.

"I imagine for games you'd take the same approach - everyone turns up ready to play and then goes home."

Part of the Premier League's plans is that all the venues must be approved, and achieve a higher certification than in normal circumstances, opening up the possibility of matches being played on neutral territory.

Vince says that is "a possibility" at EFL level too, but is open to doing it.

"I don't think we're at that level of discussion yet but I've seen the suggestion (of playing at neutral venues)," he said.

"I would say it's a possibility because there's no home and away advantage for anyone any more is there?

"I just wouldn't be bothered. It won't matter that much if you're playing at home or playing away if it's in an empty stadium. I think a lot of people would just be happy if we could finish the season, and it's no real hardship if we had to do that somewhere else and not in front of a crowd. In the scheme of things, that's not a real hardship."