Man Utd plans to play fanless at Old Trafford until 2021

Manchester United’s money men are gearing up for an end-of-the-world scenario of empty stadiums until SIX months after soccer resumes.

And they’re not alone with many top clubs believing that mass gatherings and a return to stadiums with a capacity of up to 75,000 fans may not occur until the NEXT year, when a vaccine may become widely available.

Like many major clubs, I understand that United’s financial planners are building various strategies to copy with a long-term absence of crowds in Premier League games.

And it is believed that the worst-case scenario could extend beyond February 2021 as the world struggles to control the deadly pandemic.

The clubs believe that the sanction of large sports crowds for football matches will be the last of the closing tables to be removed.

Government medical advisers say lifting the restrictions to allow large crowds at sporting events poses a great danger to the Covid-19 outbreak gaining another foothold, and they are not willing to take that risk for several months.

United’s financial position is stronger than that of many clubs, but senior club officials are well aware that the crowds cannot return to Old Trafford and other stadiums for months.

And Executive Vice President Ed Woodward and his management team are taking that scenario into account in their financial forecasts as they try to find a way to mitigate ongoing damage.

A source said: “It is highly likely that spectators will not be allowed at soccer games for several months until a vaccine is available or the coronavirus undergoes significant control.