League Two: Northampton, Colchester & Cheltenham plan to restart group training
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Alan McCormack (right) joined Northampton from Luton last summer
Northampton, Colchester and Cheltenham plan to restart group training in the next week as they begin to prepare for their prospective League Two play-offs.
Fourth-tier sides chose to end the regular season in an indicative vote on 15 May, which is still to be ratified.
If the table is to be decided on points per game, Exeter City would take the other play-off spot.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is glowing even brighter now," said Northampton midfielder Alan McCormack.
He told 91热爆 Radio Northampton: "Since last week when the news came to us that we were in the play-offs, and it looks like that's going to happen, the motivation from everyone jumped tenfold."
Northampton players and staff will have coronavirus tests on Thursday with a view to returning to training in small groups on Monday, while those at Cheltenham will be tested on Friday with a view to also returning on Monday.
The English Football League's recommended framework for a curtailed season would see final places determined by an unweighted points-per-game ratio.
Clubs' feedback to the framework will be discussed at an EFL board meeting on Wednesday, with the final plan then being put out to clubs to vote on.
If that is passed, divisions will then have their own individual votes about whether to restart their regular season or not.
Northampton - who would finish seventh in League Two under the points-per-game calculation - would face Cheltenham in their play-off semi-final if current proposals are ratified, with Exeter facing Colchester in the other tie.
Cheltenham boss Michael Duff told 91热爆 Points West: "It is difficult, because you're sort of trying to plan in the dark, but it's about getting our heads around the fact it is happening, we will be playing, and making sure everyone is focused.
"We should walk in with a positive mindset, looking to get promoted.
"I'll be having conversations with players, making sure everyone is comfortable with coming in.
"There's also the mental side - we've got young lads cooped up at home. They've all been pretty good. They've all been keeping fit."
Colchester say players could be back training together this week as they finalise their own testing procedure.
"We need to be safe, in terms of phase one and we'll be making sure that everything is fully in place before staff members return," boss John McGreal told the Colchester Gazette.
91热爆 Sport has also contacted Exeter about whether they have any plans to return to training.