Fixture congestion

Last updated : 18 April 2006 By Reggie Holdsworth
As the season comes to a dramatic close the hectic schedule is only a burden to those clubs that progress in the cup competitions.

Having guarenteed mathematically their Premiership survival Boro are still fighting for silverware on two fronts.

Boro prepared for three semi-finals in eight days by playing two league games over Easter, while their UEFA Cup opponents, Steaua Bucharest, were given permission to postone their league game and give the players two days off.

It always happens in the last two months of the season, one or two clubs just have too many games to fit into the season. So what can the FA do to help the successful clubs out?

Re-organising the season by playing league games in the early part of the season, leaving the end of the season less congested.

The FA have bent over backwards to help the national side in recent seasons, at the expense of the successful club sides. A shortened season because of the World Cup has not helped but this scenario happens avery year.

Success in Europe for our clubs sides can only do good for the game in this country, so the hindrance of such fixture congestion does not do anyone any favours.

If success for the club sides in Europe is important to the FA let us see them help the clubs out by considering options for this end of season congestion.