This could be Sunderland's most bruising week yet of a turbulent summer but no excuse for not being prepared

Now three months without football, recent focus has turned to off-field matters with the spotlight being shone on the £20.5million parachute payment ‘write-off’ - which sparked anger throughout an already fed-up fanbase despite promises it will be paid back.

That was quickly followed by the furore over the season card plans for next season.

Last week we had a club statement, followed by a Q&A and then an open letter to supporters, which finally resulted in a partial u-turn, of sorts, over the club’s season card policy.

Fans will be offered a refund even if games this season are played behind-closed-doors, however, Sunderland are not changing their plans for renewals next season, with those who sign up offered a streaming pass in lieu of a refund for any games played behind-closed-doors.

However, those who have already signed up and paid in full will now be offered the chance to claim a refund.

So at least fans now have a choice, which they didn't appear to have before.

Many will still pay for a season ticket for 2020-21 to support the club and because they always have done, while a growing number will not, in part because of the growing divide between the current owners and the fanbase but also while waiting to see how the situation works out in League One and when football will actually return.

There has been nothing to cheer and little positivity around the club for months, with fans also facing up to a third season in the third tier.

All this amid the backdrop of there being no football. The League One campaign suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic with a vote finally set to take place on Tuesday.

All signs point to the season being curtailed, with a points-per-game formula used to settle the table and promotion and relegation issues.

As has been well documented, the only chance Sunderland have of winning promotion is if the season starts again.

On PPG they remain outside the play-offs, which are set to be limited to the traditional four teams despite pleas for an extended play-offs.

This could be the most bruising week of the lot if the season is ended but there will at least be some clarity and clubs can put their plans for this summer and next season into action.

There are contracts to be decided, players to be released, new signings targeted - after two years at this level, major change is needed this summer. A significant number of the fanbase also hope there will be a takeover too, at some point.

It has been almost 12-weeks without football and there was never a guarantee that this season would restart again so clubs - including Sunderland - don't have any excuses for not being prepared for what comes next.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

And being as prepared as possible for next season's promotion push, whenever that may start.