Derry City have requested that the kick-off time of their game against Dundalk on Friday be changed as it clashes with Aston Villa's encounter against Manchester United in the Premier League.
The Premier League match has been brought forward to Friday night due to a planned English Defence League march in Birmingham city centre on the Saturday, meaning it is a one-off for this season. However, next year there will be 10 Friday night televised matches in the EPL.
Derry host champions Dundalk in one of six matches in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday, while the game in Villa Park will be broadcast by Sky Sports.
“Obviously it’s going to affect the crowds for all home teams in the League of Ireland this Friday night"
“We spoke to the FAI to see if we could have the game brought forward,” City chief executive Sean Barrett told the Derry Journal.
“At this stage they were very reluctant but I’m assuming other clubs are feeling the same and you never know, we might have some success but we’ll see as the week goes on.
“It’s obviously going to have an effect on attendances. We anticipated this earlier in the season and spoke to the FAI about it.
“The FAI have assured us that it won’t be a concern this year [Friday night Premier League matches on Sky Sports] because they were bringing it in over a period of time.
“Obviously it’s going to affect the crowds for all home teams in the League of Ireland this Friday night, however.
“It’s something the league are going to have a serious look at for next season because Manchester United, Arsenal and teams like that, playing on a Friday night, are going to affect the crowds - there’s no doubt about that.
“We’re looking at different alternatives. But what are the alternatives - Saturday at 5pm? But there’s a game on then. Is it Sunday? - there’s two games on then and there’s one on Monday. And then on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays there’s Champions League games. So it’s just going to be very difficult to get a slot for League of Ireland games.
“I don’t know what the standard of Friday night games are going to be but unfortunately they're starting off with a big one. It’s a serious concern for the club because we’re trying to get as much revenue in as we can. Premiership football is a big attraction to young people especially and it will affect the crowd.”
