CITY are pressing the EFL for a back-up date if the season cannot start as early as has been suggested.

The governing body are pushing for the 2020/2021 League Two campaign to kick off by mid-September at the latest.

Dates of August 29 and September 12 have been mentioned as possible opening days for the EFL – the weekend in between is currently set aside for internationals.

The Bantams will plan towards that schedule with Stuart McCall keen to get going in terms of recruitment and pre-season preparations.

But with the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic, they believe that contingency plans should be in place for any delay.

“All we’d say, from a Bradford City perspective, is that we are happy to work with whatever’s in front of us as we have been since March,” said director of communications Ryan Sparks.

“But please make sure there is a back-up plan in place.

“It’s difficult to control the virus as the USA have proved on a daily basis. It’s made even more difficult if you try to pretend everything is okay and crack on with your life like it never happened.

“You’ve got rough dates in your mind but we aren’t working with facts at the minute. What’s been put in front of us is only a proposal.

“We need to see exactly what it is we are required to do. The second we have that, then obviously plans we have got will be activated quite quickly.

“But there are serious implications the clubs need to consider for not starting early.

“The Carabao Cup could be affected and that could have financial implications in terms of the central distribution.”

McCall has been having more conversations with agents and players about possible signings, although City are yet to make their first move in the market.

They are firmly opposed to the £1.5 million salary cap that will be put to the vote with clubs at the end of the month.

Sparks added: “Recruitment is a two-pronged issue but we’ll have to work with it.

“Without knowing a specific start date, when does the contract start and when is that player required to report for pre-season training?

“Equally, where we can get that player from in a value perspective without knowing the salary cap?

“We will always endeavour to put a good side out on the field that can compete at the right end of the division.

“Stuart McCall is absolutely ready to go. He’s like a man on the starting line but someone’s lost the starter gun.

“We want to get on with it. We’ve been working away for some time behind the scenes.

“We’ve got all the things we need to look at in terms of making the stadium fit for use, whether that’s for no fans in there or 25 per cent. We’ll have to wait and see on that.

“But I believe the cap is a control mechanism that will have long-term damaging effects on English football outside of the Championship.

“I understand the EFL’s perspective. They are probably looking for a control mechanism that protects them from taking the likes of Bury on the chin.

“But anyone who knows how that panned out knows the EFL are not to blame for the demise of that football club. That was well and truly done ‘inhouse’.

“I’m not sure this is the time for a salary cap when clubs are fighting for their future.

“There are clubs we are speaking to who aren’t sure if they are going to get past the summer – and certainly have no idea how they are going to still exist at Christmas.

“Yet they are campaigning for salary caps. I struggle with that from a priority perspective.”

Sparks admits the details within the cap proposal are potentially “game-changing” – and not in a good way.

“It probably protects certain owners. There will be some who aren’t that ambitious and it works for them.

“But from a Bradford City perspective and what sits inside the proposal, regarding what you can do with your football fortune and possible points deductions, it really changes the game for us.

“I think clubs in a similar position to ourselves in the higher tier in League One will feel similar concerns.

“It’s a wider problem and people need to consider the long-term effects.”