Luton could face a delay in welcoming fans back to Kenilworth Road

Luton's hopes of welcoming supporters back to Kenilworth Road next month could be delayed after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to allow spectators to return to sporting events are to be reviewed.

The Hatters have played in front of empty grounds since the season resumed after lockdown in June, while they have been unable to gain any match-day income since February, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnson had revealed in July that the government intended to bring back fans from October, but with cases back on the rise, speaking at a Downing Street news conference yesterday, the PM stated this might not be the case.

He also announced pilot events this month would be restricted to 1,000 fans with social distancing measures in place, saying: "We must revise plans to pilot larger audiences in venues later this month and review our intention to return audiences to stadiums from 1 October.

"But that doesn't mean we are going to scrap the programme entirely. We are just going to have to review it and abridge it."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: "In light of increasing transmission rates, the government is reviewing the proposed sports and business events pilots ahead of 1 October and we will unfortunately need to scale some back.

"We know fans and audiences are eager to return, and jobs depend on this too, so work continues around the clock on the 'moonshot project' with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas, if safe to do so."

The Women's Super League match between Arsenal and West Ham on Saturday was one of the pilot events that were planned with a limited number of fans in attendance.

Other proposed events include football's non-league finals day at Wembley on September 27, race meetings at Warwick and Newmarket on September 21 and 24 respectively, a basketball exhibition match in Newcastle on September 18 and a speedway event in Ipswich on September 26.