Gosport boss Gale: I don’t want to start the new season without fans in the grounds

But he conceded that may well be the case when the curtain is lifted on their Southern League Premier South campaign.

Borough began their seven-game pre-season friendly programme with a 2-1 success at Fareham on Saturday.

New signings Dan Wooden and Brad Tarbuck were among those involved, with Theo Lewis and a trialist on target after the hosts had taken the lead at Cams Alders through Casey Bartlett-Scott.

As things stand, all of Gosport’s fixtures will have to be played behind closed doors because of the pandemic.

And it looks increasingly likely that Gosport could start the league season without supporters allowed to attend.

A date has yet to be confirmed for the Southern League start, but September 19 is a likely option.

It's a scenario Gale does not want to see happen, but he conceded there'll be no option if current restrictions remain in place.

In home friendlies and league matches at Privett Park, the club will still have to fork out for officials. And if they are drawn at home in the FA Cup, they will have to pay the away team’s travel expenses as well.

'I don’t think we want to get things started without fans in the stadium, no-one wants to play without fans,' said Gale.

‘It’s a difficult subject really.

‘At the end of the day, I’ve said it all along, there are more important things than a game of football - people are dying.