Peterhead boss Jim McInally hopes they can get some sort of crowd in for their home League One opener against Cove Rangers.
It will be an eagerly-anticipated derby game in the north-east, following confirmation that Cove will take their place in the third tier after winning League Two last season.
However, at this stage, there are no clear plans in place as to when even reduced crowds will be permitted back into grounds, which will bite more in the lower leagues where hospitality is more of a revenue driver.
The Blue Toon are away on the opening day of the season against Airdrieonians on October 17, before the visit of Cove a week later. They then have back-to-back away games against Clyde and Montrose.
McInally said: “Three out of four away games is good, because it maybe gives us longer to crowds in, if there’s none in by then.
“It would be a sore one if the Cove game is behind-closed-doors. That game would be a total sell-out for sponsorship but I suppose it could be easier to sell-out at short-notice, compared to other games.
“I’m so pleased that Cove are there. It’s a local derby game and we know so many of their players. There’ll be an edge to it, that’s for sure. It’s healthy competition and as I said last year, we need to take up the challenge that’s coming from Cove.”
The only derby at the Balmoral Stadium will come on January 2, while Peterhead welcome Paul Hartley’s side again on March 13.
The Blue Toon play both full-time League One teams away from home twice, travelling to Partick Thistle on December 19 and April 10 and Falkirk on December 5 and May 1.
McInally added: “It’s four big games in nice stadiums, so it’s something for the players to enjoy.”
“Having the fixtures gives the club a wee opportunity now to get some match sponsorship in. That nags away at everyone, the fact we’ve not got that encouragement to get even reduced capacity in the grounds. Without income there, there’s still a worry there that it could go belly-up again.
“Until such times where we get that encouragement, it’s hard to make plans.
“The longer you go without crowds, hospitaltity, the catering side of it, it’s a tough one. We do need some sort of encouragement from the Scottish Government for the game.”
McInally intends on targeting the loan market this year to boost his squad, with the majority of players accepting reduced terms to stay at Balmoor.
He said: “All of the boys I’ve spoken to have just about accepted reduced terms. I’m waiting for a couple to get back to me and we’ve got the furlough extensions to consider.
“We’ll definitely be in the loan market this season for three or four players – something we don’t usually do. We’ll try keep three or four players that’s maybe been playing at a higher level.
“I’ve said to players ‘I’m not going to lie – I’m still going to try bring in a couple of players that’ll make a difference to the team’. Doing that we need to sacrifice bodies, so we’ll probably look to have a squad of 18. The good thing is now we can use the five subs, so it’s even more of a squad game.”
