Wigan Athletic will 'keep asking the question' over international conundrum

Gregor Rioch says Latics will continue to push for an international break in League OneGregor Rioch says Latics will continue to push for an international break in League One
Gregor Rioch says Latics will continue to push for an international break in League One
Gregor Rioch says Wigan Athletic will 'keep asking the question' of whether League One should have an automatic international break factored in.

For the second time this season, Latics were forced to postpone their scheduled fixture last weekend due to a number of their players receiving international call-ups.

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The scheduled visit of Burton next month also looks unlikely to take place, meaning Latics will have lost THREE Saturday home games in the space of 10 weeks.

With those games being played midweek instead, Latics will obviously have to deal with the significant financial ramifications – including reduced away fans travelling and the impact on hospitality.

And Rioch, Latics' sporting director, has called for the EFL to step in to help.

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“A number of clubs, including ourselves, proposed 12 months ago that League One should be in the same bracket as the Championship, and all fixtures should be postponed on international weekends," said Rioch.

"If you look at the first international weekend, there were only three fixtures. in League One, and only two last weekend.

"We've had three home games before Christmas that fall on those weekends - exactly as it was last season.

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"That means you end up with back-to-back away games, and that can disadvantage you both on the pitch and also off it.

"We're losing money in terms of revenue, but we're also trying to improve our fan engagement on a matchday.

"We had big plans to do that at the beginning of last season, but we only had a couple of home games before the weather changed. All of a sudden you can't do things you would perhaps have liked.

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"They should look at it, so it's at least the same number of home games as away games that are affected, which is something they can do in terms of fixtures.

"We could perhaps start the season a week earlier, or finish a week later...last season the EFL season finished in April, which I've never known before.

"I think as time goes on, especially with the amount of PL loans that are coming into Leagues One and Two, there are more internationals being spread around, it will get looked at.

"We'll keep asking the question, as will many other clubs, as it does affect revenues and we'll see where that takes us."

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