FFS. There is [sizeNO[/size 24 hour rule saying that Wigan can't play.

The rule simply states that the football must take priority. In other words you cannot move a football match to accomodate the rugby, a concert, pie eating contest or wet t-shirt contest. If Sky, the PL, BBC, the Pope or whoever tell Wigan Athletic they are playing at midnight on a Monday morning then they MUST play at midnight on a Monday morning and any other event must be cancelled or re-arranged. That is the [sizeONLY[/size ruling from the PL that could see a Wigan RLFC game moved.

The so called 24 hour rule is a rule brought in by Dave Whelan because he can't turn the stadium around. Now I presume it doesn't just relate to the pitch or to the stands but to the changing rooms, hospitality, media (there will be a hell of alot more there for a Latics match than a rugby match) and all other behind the scenes aspects. Maybe Omani TV can't set up in less than 24 hours. Maybe it's impossible to run the number of cables needed. Who knows? But this has [sizeNOTHING[/size to do with the Premier League. It is Dave Whelan (saying we can't play Saturday) and the BBC (saying we are playing Saturday) who are to blame.

It would be interesting if the game was moved to hear how BBC reported it. Would Clare Balding say "Hello and welcome to (insert ground here) We should have been at The DW but we stamped our feet and spat our dummy out because we didn't want Sky to show this game so we're here at (insert ground here) and we're quite pleased with ourselves"

And then go to camera shots of a half empty stadium.
Agree with the above totally, it can be MM w/end stadiums have done and are doing it again this year, and the Etiad is larger than DW so more cleaning up etc.
TOTAL FARCE

There is only the cleaning up to do after day 1 of Magic though as all the TV and media stuff is there from the day before.

I don't know how long it takes to get a ground ready for a PL match but it has been done before at the KC I believe.

Like I said, DW and the BBC are the problem. Not the PL and not Wigan Athletic.

As an example.

The Wigan game would finish at around 4.30 on Saturday. Call it 5.00 by the time the stands are cleared and the TV coverage has finished. BBC would then have to clear out the screen and all of their equipment before Sky, ESPN and whoever else is showing the game can come in and start to set their lot up. (BBC would be there too so maybe some of the stuff could stay I don't know)

The stands would need to be cleared and all the advertising boards changed. Same on the concourse with the betting kiosks.

The hospitality rooms would need to be cleared which wouldn't be until around 6-7 and then cleaned up and set up for the Latics game. Latics have the use of 5 lounges. The staff would also need to finish at a certain time so they could legally come back to work the next day for another full day shift or there would need to be more staff available which could mean less staff on each of the days than normal.

The tunnel, entrances, changing rooms and media room would all need to be changed for around 12pm when the players start to arrive.

The pitch would need looking at, painting twice, the posts changed, the flags changed and the grass possibly cut.


I'm sure there's other things that would need doing as well but maybe DW doesn't feel it is possible to do all that in less than 24 hours and get it to the standard that is expected in the PL and advertised by WAFC?

I'm realistic. You however are someone who has no influence over anything on this matter.

So, if you are "ITK", tell us what's happening?

Post tidied up by pemps. I understand everyone's frustration but can we keep insulting posts and swearing to a minimum please?

Don't know what your problem is here.

The facts are I asked Josie to contact the club. She did. She has also had an acknowledgement of my offer from the club. The response said there was a lot going on at the minute and they would get back to us. They are the facts.

Now my offer may not be accepted but at least it has made the point to all concerned that we the fans are not happy about this.

Can we please stop bad-mouthing each other now?

About four years ago me and the lad were at a Wigan Warriors match against Saints on a Friday night (about 23k on) 8pm kick off . The next day we were back at the DW (JJB then) for the Latic's v Bolton Premier League game 3pm kick off (19k on ) . They managed it then ok .

Correction it was against Fulham (17k on)

Maybe it didn't work to plan so they stopped it? Maybe DW still owned us then and truly cared what happened?

Point taken mate .

Dont really care where they play it to be honest. As we are all there to see a Warriors victory . Prefer games away from the DW better apmosphere and banter .

Point taken mate .

Dont really care where they play it to be honest. As long as we are all there to see a Warriors victory . Prefer games away from the DW better apmosphere and banter .

Not being funny, but obviously there's a reason why he doesn't allow it and it won't just be the pitch or because he's an ar$e. Well, I don't think it will.

I heard there's a 24hr rule in place from the FA. Can anyone confirm this?

Not getting involved with this on

Leaving the house now to head down for tonights game

FIXTURES
Arranging Fixtures
The dates of League Matches shall be fixed and published by the Board as soon as practicable
prior to the commencement of each Season and except as otherwise provided in this Section
of these Rules, League Matches shall be played on the dates thus fixed.

No fixtures shall be arranged on or on any of the 6 days preceding the 4 dates agreed between
the League and the Football Association prior to each Season upon which international
matches will be played.

Except for League Matches scheduled to be televised live and subject to Rules E.4, E.6, E.7, and
E.8, weekend League Matches will be played on Saturdays.

League Matches will be played on New Year’s Day unless:
it falls on a Sunday, or
it falls on a Thursday or Friday and F.A. Cup matches are scheduled to be played on the
immediately following Saturday.

The copyright in the League’s fixture list shall belong to the Company.

Rearranging fixtures

The Board shall have power at any time to change the date upon which a League Match is to
be played. Before exercising such power the Board will consult with and take into account any
representations made by the Clubs participating in the League Match in question and any
other Club or Clubs which may be affected thereby.

A Club engaged in any match played in a UEFA competition on a Thursday evening and a
League Match on the following Saturday may rearrange the League Match to the following
Sunday provided that:
it gives notice to that effect to the Secretary and to its League Match opposing Club
within 72 hours of the date of the UEFA match being fixed (or, if the period of 72 hours
expires on a day which is not a Working Day, by close of business on the first Working
Day thereafter);
there is no police objection;
the rearrangement of the League Match does not result in the opposing Club having to
play another League Match, F.A. Cup match or UEFA match within 2 days of the
rearranged League Match being played.

A Club may apply to the Board to rearrange a Saturday fixture so that it is played on the
preceding Friday or the following Sunday and in considering whether to exercise its power to
do so the Board shall have regard also to:
the principle that such applications shall not normally be granted in respect of more
than 2 League Matches in any one week;
the effect any such rearrangements would have on published football pool coupons.

Arranging other matches

A Club shall not arrange to play a friendly match during the Season:
until the dates of League Matches for that Season have been fixed and published in
accordance with Rule E.1; or
so that it adversely affects a League Match.

Other competitions

Except with the prior written approval of the Board, a Club shall not enter or play in any 10.
competition other than:
the UEFA Champions League;
the UEFA Europa League;
the F.A. Cup;
the F.A. Community Shield;
the Football League Cup;
competitions sanctioned by the County Association of which it is a member.

Each Club shall enter the F.A. Cup.

Qualification for UEFA Club Competitions shall be on sporting merit through domestic
competitions controlled or sanctioned by the Football Association. Clubs qualifying for a UEFA
Club Competition must apply for a UEFA Club Licence in accordance with the Licensing
Manual.

Postponement of League Matches

A League Match shall not be postponed or abandoned except:

when on the date fixed for it to be played either the Home Club or the Visiting Club is
competing in a competition permitted by Rules E.10.1, E.10.2, and E.10.3; or
with the approval of or on the instructions of the officiating referee; or
by order of the police; or
by order of any other authority exercising its statutory powers to that effect; or
on the instructions of or with the prior written consent of the Board.

Where it is proposed to postpone a League Match pursuant to Rule E. on the grounds of
safety, the appropriate Official of the Home Club shall:
complete and make available on request to the Premier League all relevant risk
assessment documentation; and
time permitting, consult with the officiating referee, the police, the chairman of the
Club’s Safety Advisory Group and the match delegate appointed to attend the League
Match pursuant to Rule E.17.

Upon a League Match being postponed or abandoned in accordance with Rules E.13.1, E.13.2, 15.
E.13.3 or E.13.4, the Home Club shall forthwith inform the Secretary, and the Board will
thereupon exercise its power under Rule E.6 and fix a date upon which the League Match in
question shall be played.

---

This is the FIXTURE excerpt from the afore-linked PDF of the FA Premier League Guide.

As we can see, there NO 24hour rule in the official guidelines, that rule seems to exist only in Whelans' imagination.

OH. And I'm a newcomer to Rugby League as a whole... I never saw any RL untill the Grand Final of 2010 (of which I'm sure all Warriors AND St supporters remember with great fondness ) but I became interested in the sport as a whole then. Then last year I tried to ignore my mrs' Warrior-fondness and make up my own mind about what club I liked best meself. I initially landed on two clubs that stood out from the crowd: Wires and the Warriors. But there was one (Well, two) things the Warriors had that none other club has... Sam Tomkins and Josh Charnley.

So there you go. It's all Sam and Josh' fault. (And I got a handshake from Josh on Tuesday, haven't washed the hand since )

Whatever rules the FA/PL have, they have no authority over the RFL.