The United players and staff met up ‪on Saturday morning‬ for their first round of Covid-19 testing — and all 29 tests completed were negative.

With a temporary training venue secured and all Stage 1 and Stage 2 ‘return to training’ protocols submitted to the National League, attentions will now switch to a resumption of training for Craig Elliott and his players and backroom staff.

United chairman David Newton said: “Following a great deal of Covid-19 work done by vice-chairman Neil Kempster, medical officer Robert Kirk-Smith and health and safety consultant Paul Dixon, we met with the squad ‪on Saturday morning‬ to brief the players and management team on the Covid-19 measures that the club were putting in place to allow the safe return to training. Following the briefing, all players and staff were happy to move forward with the resumption of training and ultimately take part in the play-off matches, so the first round of Covid-19 tests were carried out and I am delighted to report that all test results proved to be negative.

“We now look forward to a phased and structured return to training.

“We understand that all 12 teams involved in the North and South play-offs are now signed up and we look forward to absolute confirmation from the National League.”

Mr Newton also confirmed that an agreement has been struck with the Malkinson family to stage the home play-off fixture(s) at York Street — despite United initially being set to leave their famous old ground at the end of June.

“I am delighted that our game(s) will be held at York Street,” added the United chairman. “I am extremely grateful to the Malkinson family for their very generous offer of the use of The Jakemans Stadium and I hope that we can deliver a fitting end to our time at York Street, albeit sadly without supporters being present.

“The fixtures at York Street are still subject to making sure that the stadium can be made Covid-secure and we will now work on those processes, which will then need to be approved by the National League, so there is still a lot of work to be done.

“We are still hopeful that BT Sport will cover the games, either live or via their streaming service, but again we await confirmation from the National League.

“We are now moving much closer to enabling us to finish this great season on the pitch and we will continue to work hard to try to give our fans and the old stadium a fantastic end to the season.”

United are set to host a semi-final against either Brackley Town or Gateshead, provisionally scheduled over the weekend of ‪July 25‬ and 26.

Should United reach the play-off final, they will either travel to York City — or host Altrincham or Chester FC — over the weekend of ‪August 1‬ and 2 (provisionally).