Adam Pope has drawn attention to how erratic the fixture schedule is after Leeds United’s kickoff time was once more altered for Sky Sports TV coverage.
After the club announced on Twitter on April 5 that the Whites’ trip to Loftus Road at the end of the month would now take place on Friday night, April 28, the BBC journalist responded on the social media platform by asking, “Really?” considering the club was already scheduled to play another prime time game on Monday, April 22, at Middlesbrough.
This season, Leeds’ games have been changed frequently for TV coverage, a problem that has affected fans’ travel plans and Daniel Farke and his staff’s preparations. The club feels that the Championship’s broadcast partner is not providing them with enough compensation for this inconvenience.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds United profile is both a boon and a bane.
It’s obvious that the Whites generate enough interest for Sky Sports to want to broadcast their games nonstop, which is kind of an honor in and of itself.
However, that frequently has less than ideal practical implications for both the team and the supporters, especially for away games.
Given that train schedules are frequently anything than accommodating, it will undoubtedly be more difficult for many traveling fans to travel to the North East, West London, and back in the same week.
That Farke’s side are in the midst of such a heated title race only makes the situation more likely to keep occurring, and more infuriating that the potential marginal effects of it could make a negative difference.
Leeds United are obviously not the only club in the world to experience it but the running theme is one of the downsides of what has turned into a very impressive season.
After their win over Hull City the Whites are currently second by a point behind leaders Ipswich, with one-time runaway table-toppers Leicester a point further back with a game in hand.
And if they are going to secure automatic promotion and a potential Championship title then it looks like they are going to do it in front of big audiences all the way to the end.
