Curle would support playing behind closed doors to get the season finished

The PTS could remain empty for Cobblers' four remaining home games.

Cobblers boss Keith Curle believes the current season must be be played to a successful conclusion regardless of how long that might take, even if it meant playing the nine remaining games behind closed doors.

All options are on the table in a bid to get the football schedule back on track amid the coronavirus outbreak, including delaying the start of next season, playing without fans and even cancelling the current campaign altogether.

Euro 2020 has already been postponed until next year while the FA, EFL and Premier League all signalled their determination to finish the campaign by amending a rule that previously stated the season must be wrapped up by June 1.

Even if the 2019-20 season runs into the summer, there's still no guarantee that it will be safe for supporters to attend matches in their thousands given the measures currently being put in place by the government to deal with COVID-19.

The option of putting games behind closed doors might therefore be the only one, and whilst it's not the most desirable outcome, Curle would be in favour of it to get the season finished.

"If it was the only way we could finish the season, then yes," he said.

"I've been in the game a long time but I've never been forced to play a match behind closed doors so I've never experienced it.

"I can't fully comprehend how it would feel but if that was the only way we could come to a conclusion that saw an end to the season with promotions, relegations and play-offs, I would do it.

"If playing in car parks meant us getting in the play-offs and winning promotion, I'd play in car parks because the season needs to have a finale."

With the club currently occupying a play-off place in Sky Bet League Two, Curle's not the only person at the Cobblers desperate to resume the season, which has been delayed further until at least April 30.

"I feel the season has to finish but when that end date will be, I don't know, and then the start date for next season will be, I don't know," added Curle.

"Only a couple of weeks ago we we were planning our pre-season schedule but that's had to be scraped because we don't know when the season is going to start so it's all got to be delayed.

"I'm glad I'm not one of the decision-makers because whatever decision is made, it's going to be wrong for some people, but the powers that be have to make the right decision for the betterment of the sport."