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.

It was.

Hull City played Ipswich at 12.45, and then we played in the evening.

the only Premier League rule on the subject that I can find is:

No Club shall have or enter into a ground-sharing agreement unless the agreement contains a legally enforceable provision to the effect that the playing of the Club’s League Matches shall always take precedence over the activities of the other party to the agreement.

Thats the only rule

That rule does not exist!

DW said last time that he could not turn the stadium around in 24 hours. Those were his words.

He must have been referring to his own company then, and the fact he'd rather not pay the staff overtime to get it done.

As has been mentioned above, there's nothing in the PL rulebook about the timing before a match, only that there has to be a provision for the PL club to have the right to dictate terms.

Maybe Wigan's particular agreement has a set time clause that we're not aware of.

We did used to turn around when they were in the championship didnt we?

Yes,
I believe Whelan is doing of because of the criticism Wigan Athletic has had over the state of the pitch from some PL clubs.

Are they just going to swap the Friday and Sunday games?

That's what I'd expect for the first round.

He claims its because its not possible to turn it around but really its because he can't be bothered paying extra staff and also for the reason you have just stated.

I think 14 times we have played on a Friday and they have played on a Saturday. It has certainly happened quite a few times because i used to go to quite a lot of Latics matches pre-PL.

There is no rule stating we can't play 24 hours prior to a PL game. That has just been made up as we have played on a Friday prior to a Latics PL game before.

All these problems have only arisen because Whelan has sold Wigan RL and he knows as long as Wigan RL exist Latics will continue to get poor crowds.

if they can't turn it round after a friday game,what is the difference in turning it round for a sunday game apart from a few hours

Good call

They can turn it round from a Friday night to a Saturday afternoon. It just that Whelan no longer owns the rugby so doesn't give a poo. And Wigan RL are the main reason behind Latics poor crowds which also miffs him off.

no we arent, the fact the latics are and they play a game is the reason

Yeah but 3 clubs in the 3rd divison got higher crowds than Latics at the weekend. And they are pooper than Latics.