PETER Grant has set his sights on a return to Alloa Athletic first team training at the end of August.

The Wasps have been out of action since Scottish football was placed into cold storage by the Covid-19 pandemic at the start of March. 

Like most teams across the country, the part-timers utilised the UK Government's Job Retention Scheme, placing the squad on furlough earlier this year. While Grant returned to his role last month, the players remain out of action. 

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Championship clubs have been given the go-ahead to return to training ahead of the season opener in October. It's understood that so far, only Hearts, relegated in controversial circumstances from the Premiership, have taken to the training pitch. 

The Wasps boss is hopeful, however, of meeting up with his players sooner rather than later when they will begin their preparations for a third successive season in Scotland's second-tier. 

"We've been checking in with the boys every two weeks or so to make sure they are all doing okay," Grant told Advertiser Sport. "I would like to get back in the last week in August if it's possible. That's not down to me, though, and it's up to everything being ready at the stadium and government continuing to give us the go ahead.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: The Alloa first team squad, including Jon Robertson, remain on furlough The Alloa first team squad, including Jon Robertson, remain on furlough

"We will still have to do it step-by-step and it does change every week. Recently, we were talking about getting crowds in and now they are talking about shutting things down again.

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"It's hard enough without that. If it was a straight flow, it would be easier. That's the difficulty in trying to prepare as it's unusual."