This is the date Portsmouth are set to begin the new 2020-21 EFL season

That is the target being earmarked to begin the new term with a quick turnaround needed to avoid a congested 2020-21 campaign.

And that means it’s likely to be a brief summer break for Kenny Jackett’s men, before they begin their work to gain promotion from the third tier at the fourth attempt.

Dates are being bandied around by clubs to get the season up and running, and it now appears it’s the August date or September 12 which are the two likely options.

Pompey’s preference would be to go for the earlier slot, with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic meaning the season is already facing the prospect of being condensed from its usual time frame.

The Saturday between the two dates under focus - September 5 - is out of the equation with Nations League fixtures taking place from September 3-8.

The August date would mean it’s likely Pompey would need to begin their pre-season preparations in the next couple of weeks.

Jackett has tended to do pre-season training over a period of just over five weeks in his three years at Fratton Park.

A similar schedule this year would have Pompey reporting in and around July 23 to keep to the same timetable.

The Blues began the 2019-20 term on August 3 with a defeat at Shrewsbury, before bringing the curtain down in disappointing fashion with a penalty shootout loss against Oxford United on Monday.

The League One season ends on Monday with the play-off final between Wycombe and Oxford United as Wembley.

The Championship’s league fixtures come to a close on July 22 with the play-offs running from July 26 until August 4. League Two’s play-off final saw Northampton thump Exeter 4-0 at the end of last month.

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