Plans to bring spectators back to sporting events next month will be put on hold.

Albion are hoping to have some fans back at the Amex from late October, when they host West Brom.

But the chances of that appeared to recede today because of the recent rise in coronavirus cases.

Th UK's chief medical officers recommended yesterday that the Covid-19 alert level should be moved from three to four, which means the transmission of the virus is "high or rising exponentially".

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told BBC Breakfast: "It was the case that we were looking at a staged programme of more people returning.

"It wasn't going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans. We're looking at how we can, for the moment, pause that programme.

"But what we do want to do is to make sure is that as and when circumstances allow get more people back.

"It is the case that we need to be cautious at the moment. A mass reopening would not be appropriate at the moment. We do need to proceed with caution."

"The virus is less likely to spread outdoors than indoors but it is in the nature of major sporting events that there is a lot of mingling.

"People look back now at the beginning of pandemic and look at some of the major sporting events then and ask the question why were they allowed to go ahead?

"One of the things we must do now, whatever the wisdom of the decisions made then, is to look at sports events now with caution.

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"We also recognise that sport's a vital part of the life of the nation and we're looking at everything we can do to support our athletes and our great clubs at what is a challenging time.

"We have been piloting some open-air venues and we do want people to be watching sport."

Major sporting bodies last week warned of the “very serious financial implications” of the ongoing lockout.

Albion’s loss of revenue every time they play a home league game behind closed doors is measured in seven figures.

They are preparing to play Manchester United in an empty stadium on Saturday.

But they are also aware of the balancing act the government face in terms of protecting the nation’s health.