As football gets back onto the grass, one expert has been doing a study into what it will take to get the smaller sides and teams back playing.

Research Director Ian Nockolds surveyed hundreds of players, fans and managers for an extensive report on grass roots football and what it will take to bring it back.

Ian who also presents the @TSWesternLeague podcast revealed that a third of grassroots football fans won't return to grounds if asked to wear gloves and a quarter would not return if it means wearing mouth and nose protection.

With the FA deciding last week that lower league play will NOT return until spectators can, this is critical.

There were other interesting aspects in the report:

44% of respondents to the survey would not agree to football coming back if it meant changing rooms had to be closed.

For players in particular, the prospect of playing without changing facilities was something that half (50%) of those completing the survey were not prepared to do, whilst the number of managers not prepared to return without changing rooms was 61%.

The prospect of playing without clubhouses open was something that 39% of survey respondents were not prepared to consider, a figure that increased to 52% when club officials were asked the same question.

Fourth on the list of measures the football family wouldn't agree to was spectators wearing gloves at games, at 29%, whilst a third of fans (33%) felt this was an intervention too far.

Spectators wearing mouth and nose protection was also an issue for the fans, with 26% indicating they wouldn't agree to this.

Ian said: " If one thing is clear from these results its that the different branches of the football family tree have very different opinions as to what they would consider an intervention too far, when it comes to seeing our national game return.

If this exercise has proven anything its that its not a simple as fans thinking the FA, or the Leagues, have got their decision "wrong" as to whether we start again or not. They need to recognise the differences that exist between their opinion, the players, officials and the clubs."

The survey was completed by 759 respondents.

On June 19 the Football Association met with the League Officials at Steps 5 and 6 of the playing pyramid.

News from that meeting:

- The national game has had a 38% cut in funding so in turn all NLS leagues who will no longer receive FA Development funding, but they will still receive administration grants at current level

- FA vase prize money will be reduced by approx 6%

- If the season does not start in August then League and County Cups cannot be run in the traditional formats during the league playing season, but it is possible that new ways could be found to run cups

- Games cannot re-start without spectators.

Those at the meeting suggested that the most likely current scenario would be games resuming in September. The FA next meets in July.