Aston Villa Trust against proposal to play behind closed doors

In a letter addressed to chief executive Christian Purslow, the Trust urged the club to take their concerns into consideration when discussing the top flight’s restart.

Further talks are due to take place this week over the Premier League’s potential restart, with health concerns meaning any resumption this summer would take place without supporters present.

But while the Trust recognise the financial pressures driving the top flight’s desire to return, they believe clubs risk alienating fans in the long-term if the sport returns in front of empty stands.

Trust director Mo Razzaq explained: “Our view is that football should only return when it is safe for everyone to do so, with everyone able to attend.

“We have written to the club and made our position clear.”

In a further development, a Villa supporter who has not missed a home match for more than 50 years has started an online petition urging fans of all clubs to show their opposition to behind closed doors fixtures.

Doug O’Brien has attended every match at Villa Park since 1968 and believes must unite together to make their voices heard.

He said: “I think what the Premier League has been planning is myopic. I think a lot of fans could end up turning their back on the game.

“People will say they need to look after their business but if they exclude fans from the discussion now, they shouldn’t be surprised if fans exclude them when they suddenly want us again.

“My view is that football should not return until a point when everyone can return with it”

“Ask Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson if he'd really like to raise the Premier League trophy triumphantly aloft to the Kop or at an empty Anfield? It's a total nonsense. Football without fans is nothing.”