You might have noticed that a familiar pattern - a lack of capital and fleeting success - has been the norm.

It's hard to see a whole lot changing in the foreseeable future. Primarily because nobody is sure about when football will return, whether the competition will retain its broadcast partner, and how the global economic constriction will affect the vast majority of sports competitions.

As the major sports in our domestic market lobby governments to restart competitions, it seems the A-League is content to meander along, let playing contracts expire on May 31, and wait for Foxtel to either renegotiate or withdraw.

As the AFL and NRL secure massive loans to ensure that everyone stays afloat in their jurisdiction, it seems from the outside, at least, that the A-League is waiting to see what happens, and start afresh with whatever resources are available, when governments agree on the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

The A-League has only a handful of games to play to conclude the 2019-20 season, and a huge window of opportunity to stage those matches given the world's longest off/pre-season (May to October) the players normally have to endure. So in that regard there is no rush. Some might say that without promotion and relegation, there is no need to finish at all!

I'd certainly find it very hard to argue with calling Sydney FC champions, awarding them and whoever is placed in the top positions midway through the 2020-21 season Asian Champions League berths for the next installation of that competition. But I'm getting ahead of myself ...

My hunch is that if a compromise is reached with Foxtel in the next few weeks, the 2019-20 season will be concluded, franchises will receive a renegotiated grant, back wages will be paid to the players, and the contracts will be extended until the season ends.

Things are going to look a bit different when we resume, quite drastically if Foxtel terminates its 15-year partnership and stakeholding. This will affect some teams more than others, in particular the Jets and Mariners. Other broadcasters might be interested, but it's hard to imagine the financial component being comparable, let alone the production and information standards.

That suggests that there will be a reduction in the size of the standard salary cap, which in turn suggests a more even competition in theory. The various marquee concessions, to those who can afford, will remain a vital point of difference.

That said, smaller budgets and restrictions on international travel are not conducive to attracting foreign players, so the number of imports may decrease when play resumes. It's hard to see the players who have returned to their native lands coming back to complete this season, if they are not contracted here for next year.

On the flip side of those theories, many will remember the effect the GFC had on some of the smaller clubs in Europe, and the number of quality players who looked to Australia as an attractive alternative at that time. There may be a few gems unearthed. Time will tell.

From a Newcastle perspective, the next few weeks will be vital. If the Foxtel payment is not forthcoming, you can imagine that there will be a lot of disgruntled and worried players, contract legalities questioned, and PFA intervention pending.

It's hard to imagine Jets owner Martin Lee, already considering the sale of the club, looking kindly on filling a very large financial hole, with no income being generated, in a rapidly haemorrhaging global economy.

All of which leads to less cabbage, the sale of key players, and a sudden inclination to promote youngsters en masse. And the beat goes on.