LATICS fans will find out today if they will soon be allowed to return to Boundary Park.

The Government announced on Monday that they were going to allow a limited number of spectators back into sporting venues in lower-risk areas when the national lockdown ends on December 2.

The guidelines state that 4,000 fans will be allowed in tier one areas and 2,000 in tier two.

However, venues in the highest-risk tier three areas will still not be allowed to permit spectators, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said with matches to be played behind closed doors.

With Oldham having previously been in tier three, fingers are being crossed throughout the area that supporters will get the chance to watch their football club in the flesh again from next week.

EFL chairman Rick Parry says the decision to welcome back fines is a “lifeline” for lower-league clubs.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement because clearly we’ve been pushing for the return of fans for some considerable time,” Parry told Radio Four’s Today programme. “We have to build upon it because what we are really looking forward to is getting fans back in more substantial numbers, but this is a really welcome start.

“At League One and League Two level it could be very significant.

“It’s not just the money, it’s a very welcome return to an atmosphere, and if we get 4,000 at League Two level it can be a very welcome lifeline.”

Parry also suggested that with December 2 falling on a Wednesday, some of next Tuesday night’s December 1 fixtures could be pushed back a day to get fans back in stadiums as soon as possible.

Harry Kewell’s Latics are due to host Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night at Boundary Park in League Two.

“We need the detail,” Parry said. “Clearly we have a number of games taking place on December 1, in theory we will be as flexible as we can if they can be moved to December 2. But we don’t know which clubs will be in which tier yet.

“We won’t know that until Thursday. We will need permissions from the safety advisory groups, we need to know this is done properly so it’s one step at a time.”