The Premier League could resume before coronavirus restrictions are lifted, according to Southampton chief executive Martin Semmens.

Speaking to the BBC, Semmes said that matches could be shown daily on television while people are still confined to their homes and that the season needs to be completed before the end of June to avoid legal difficulties.

The Saints' chief claimed that the resumption of football will be "a sign that the country is coming back to normal" but that it should not take place until it is absolutely safe to do so.

"We have to do what is right and safe for the general public," he said.

"When everybody is safe and we're not using up NHS and police resources, the government would like us to get back to playing because we are entertainment and a sign that the country is coming back to normal.

"If people are home for another month and Premier League football is on the TV every day that can only be a good thing. Not because we are more essential than the NHS but because we can give people entertainment and show that we're fighting back.

"We hope to get the league done by the end of June. As soon as you go past that date, there are legal challenges."

One of those legal challenges would come in the form of players' contracts, with many due to expire on June 30. 

While Semmens does not foresee that becoming a huge problem, he is concerned about the problem of affecting subsequent seasons. 

"If we ended up playing until 15 July and you had to extend a player's contract by two weeks, convincing a player to play two more weeks of football and get paid nicely to do it - I don't believe that will be a substantial challenge," he said.

"The challenge is making sure we don't have a knock-on effect to other seasons and make football compromised for years to come."