The huge coronavirus testing challenge Portsmouth and football needs to overcome if it's to return

And the Pompey chief executive has outlined the possible difficulties with a safe testing regime in the English game amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s set to be a crucial week in deciding the way forward through the lockdown with a government review on Thursday and Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to address the nation on the issue on Sunday.

That is set to have a big knock-on effect for football’s return, with the government keen to explore its return to lift the nation’s spirits.

Catlin has been a strong supporter of the season being seen to a conclusion, but acknowledged the huge extent to which testing would need to take place to try to keep players safe.

He said: ‘Very early on the World Health Organisation said “test, test, test”.

‘So I’ve always believed the testing regime is the way to go.

‘I would assume there would have to be some significant testing done.

‘Playing devil’s advocate, and I don't want to really because I’m positive and want to finish the season, the testing and results I’m seeing gives you a snapshot at that time.

‘Listening to scientists, they are showing it could show a negative and then you could show the symptoms and test positive the next day.

‘So it’s so difficult. I’m assuming the testing would have to be pretty intense in the lead up to any game or even daily or twice a day.

‘If there’s testing mechanisms out there, the more we can test and keep people free gives you the greater confidence for games to continue.’

Catlin underlined there’s still a massive amount of uncertainty when it comes to the impact of Covid-19 and the best measures to put in place when combatting the virus.

He said: ‘There’s so much that’s not clear. This is a new virus and we’ve only known about it for a few months.

‘They’re even not clear that if you;ve had it you're immune to getting it again.

‘I think the scientists are trying to work it out as well as anyone else.’