NEWCASTLE Jets could be back training in just over a fortnight.
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A-League clubs were flagged to resume preparations at the start of July, with the competition to kick back into gear in August.
But the Newcastle Herald understands Football Federation Australia and the players union, Professional Footballers Australia, are working to bring the start date forward.
The AFL announced on Friday that its competition will start on June 11.
The National Rugby League kicks off on May 28.
The plan is for all A-League clubs to assemble in June, and possibly as early as June 1, for a four-week mini pre-season. The remaining games, including finals, would be played in July at a central hub
The Jets have games remaining against Wellington, Central Coast, Sydney FC and Western United. They sit in ninth on 24 points, three outside the to six. Some teams, including sixth-placed Western United, have six games to play.
Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna said he was waiting on details from the FFA but would welcome the resumption being fast tracked.
Jets players have been following individual programs since the league was suspended on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The players are jumping out of their skins to get back to training," McKinna said. "They are doing their programs and keeping in touch with each other and are keen to get back on the pitch."
On Friday, the State Government entered phase one of the path to COVID-19safe which allows for gatherings of up to 10 people outside.
"By the time the start to training comes around, we might be able to bring them in all together," McKinna said.
"That would be the hope. But if it has to be groups of ten it has to be groups of ten."
Jets coach Carl Robinson told the Herald this week that he intended to give the players 10 days off once a start date for training had been confirmed.
"I will give them maybe 10 days total rest," Robinson said. "I want them to do nothing before they come in and we start to build them up once we get some dates. I'm used to having five-week preseasons in Major League Soccer."
Robinson also said he was "itching to get on the training field" and desperate to travel back to Newcastle from Vancouver, where he has been with his wife and two children.
McKinna said he had approached the FFA to help expedite the return by Robinson and assistant coach Kenny Miller, who is in Scotland.
"We have asked the FFA to speak to the government," McKinna said. "They would still need to go into quarantine for 14 days. If they miss a couple of weeks training, at least they are here.
"Hopefully, the New Zealand border is open and [newly signed assistant coach] Darren Bazeley could come in."
McKinna said games would be played in a centralised hub in either NSW or possibly Queensland but was unclear if the players would be required to have flu vaccinations.
"As a club we normally facilitate that for the players," he said. "Our doctor will give them a flu jab if they want. It hasn't been brought up yet by the FFA. They will come to us with all the medical requirements once they finalise a start date and hub. We will get a list of everything. If it we have to address that, we will address it."
