They have a game scheduled for the Sunday night

That's sorted then.

That's sorted then.

Not necessarily.

I seem to recall that Sky have stated before that the playoff game dates are basically set in stone, and that the order of play is not subject to change.

Therefore, if the 1st v 4th game is scheduled to take place on the Friday, then that is the way it HAS to be.

Maybe they've relaxed this rule over the past couple of years, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I'd hoped that our 'co-operation' in moving last weekend's Huddersfield match to the Sunday to accommodate Latics switching their Blackpool game to the Saturday might've been part of an agreement that'd allow us to use the stadium for a Friday night first round play-off match - but now I'm thinking that we moved that one because we were told we couldn't use the stadium the night before a Latics game regardless and they get priority no matter what.

If it's at Robin Park on the Sunday, then that's an alright compromise I guess (though, it's all 'give' on our part and all 'take' on DW/Athetic's). I'd much rather we played on the Friday night, mind - not least because if we were to lose against Hull or Leeds in that game, it'd give us an extra couple of days turn-around to the next match, which would be a supposed advantage of having finished top. Worst case is that we're not allowed to use the stadium on the Friday, but Sky are allowed to insist that 1st v 4th is their Friday night match, and we have to move it to Widnes or something. That would be unfair beyond belief.

Double post

Somebody from the club should come out and clarify the situition one way or the other.

Latics now own the stadium. What they say is what we have to put up with I'm afraid, especially given the good deal we get from Whelan.

It's quite simple. If Sky decide ( and it is their decision!) we are playing on Friday or Saturday, prepare for a trip to Widnes or Leigh. The club could have prevented this with a little foresight. Just as Old Trafford is kept free for GF day, so could the DW have been for the Ist Round play-off.

But the GF is a definite date, known 12 months in advance.
A Top 2 finish, thus a home round playoff was only confirmed yesterday.

We should have a friendly with Latics to decide whether we get chance to play Friday or not. 45 mins football and 40 mins Rugby, i reckon we would win at both

how can you say that when the club havnt even made an announcment yet. for all you know plans could have made weeks ago to get around this issue with the fixture clashes!

If we were playing on the Friday, groundstaff would have been told they were working overtime on the Friday night/Saturday morning. This is not the case.

We'll play on Sunday.

. i really dont think after what happened before that we'd not have somthing in place by now to get around this issue

it depends which game they want on in the biggest viewing timeslot. They would be well within their rights to choose 1st -v- 4th as being on Friday.

same solution as before. there is very little choice if SKY insist on it being on Friday, and Whelan wont relent.

From the RFL Operational Rules:

[iIf a Club is unable to stage a match on its own ground on the date or at the time required by the RFL or SLE’s broadcast partners the Board may direct that such match be played at an alternative venue (which may be the ground of its opponents) on the date and at the time so required.[/i

The days for who plays whom is not set in stone as some seem to suggest. Recent history shows they'll move games depending on the particular situation. For example Les Catalans played all their home play-off games on a Saturday a couple of years ago, when previous convention said they shouldn't.

Also if there is a draw on Saturday the replay will be the Wednesday before the play-offs, so there's no way either the Dire or Whinos will be playing on the Friday.

there are plenty more examples of them moving games to suit SKY more, rather than the other way round.

they will probably be more willing to move games where there is some reason why SKY would be inconvenienced (i.e. having an 8pm kick off on a Friday in France would be 9pm in the UK and not ideal for SKY viewers), not just because a club cannot fulfil its commitments.

Given that SKY were not willing to be flexible last time this happened, I wouldn't hold your breath hoping for them to do it this time.

The cup replay date is just crackers - if its a draw this Saturday, Saints and whoever Leeds play will have a walkover in the first playoff game.

The last time it happened when we played at Widnes, the play-off games where Friday night or Saturday night, neither of which could be played at the JJB/DW. It had nothing to do with Sky not being flexible.

This time there is a Sunday play-off game because we have 4 games in week 1 instead of 2.

Theres a PL rule that we cant use the stadium 24 hours before a PL game i believe so Sunday or alternate venue are the likeliest outcome sadly.

There is no such Premier League rule, believe me! Probably the first thing DW could think of.

Has anyone ever seen official confirmation of that rule? It's raised on here a lot, but there doesn't appear to be anything in the Premier League's rules to substantiate it.

The big problem comes if we lose our first play-off match; then we'd be at home again the following weekend, but the two slots for play-off matches are Friday 17th Sep 8pm, and Saturday 18th Sep 6.15pm. Latics are at home to Man City on the Saturday afternoon at 3pm. If it came to it, our fixture would be the Friday night one anyway as the highest placed week one loser, but we'd only have the game confirmed five-to-seven days beforehand, so it'd be a repeat of the situation that took us to Widnes last time.

If there is a rule its a new one as Hull City played 1 hour after a Hull FC game once didnt they? At the KC.

I don't think it was a Premier League League game. I think it was in the Championship.