Dons did not apply to host 1,000 fans for Lincoln game

While some clubs will welcome back 1,000 supporters to their grounds this weekend, MK Dons have confirmed they did not apply to be a part of the EFL pilot programme.

Fans will be allowed into Stadium MK on Sunday for MK Dons Women's league opener against Watford, but the club said the timing of the EFL's announcement came too late for them to 'make the necessary arrangements to welcome fans back' on Saturday.

"Confirmation that clubs could host pilot events at EFL matches came at very short notice from Government, as the EFL explained in their statement on Tuesday," wrote Dons. "The EFL also made it clear that they could not guarantee that clubs that would like to stage a pilot would be given permission to do so."

Read the full statement hereThe doors however will be open for Sunday's ladies game, and manager Russell Martin hopes fans turn out to en masse to support them.

"It will be really interesting to see how many turn up on Sunday – I hope loads do for the ladies' team, it would be great," he said. "Then we'll be the next in line, hopefully. The fans bring so much to us, and we cannot wait to get them back. It's not quite the same without them.

"Hopefully we'll get them back as planned in October, we're still waiting on clarity on it. I can't see it being a major issue at our stadium with the facilities we've got, but we will be judged by people outside of our jurisdiction. I cannot wait, and I hope it's sooner rather than later."