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Football fans criticise play-off final time delay

David Spereall & Mark Ansell
BBC News, Yorkshire
Getty Images The Championship play-off final trophy. It is silver and there are red, white and yellow ribbons tied around the handles of the trophy that read 'Skybet'. It is standing against the backdrop of Wembley Stadium. Getty Images
Sheffield United and Sunderland will contest the play-off final on 24 May

Football fans have criticised a delay in confirming when the Championship play-off final on 24 May would start.

The English Football League (EFL) confirmed on Thursday that Sheffield United and Sunderland would meet at Wembley at 15:00 BST but fans were unhappy with the late notice and the impact on making travel and accommodation plans.

Rail travel from London St Pancras to Sheffield will also be affected by engineering work on the day of the match, causing disruption.

An EFL spokesperson said the kick-off time was decided following a meeting of "representatives from relevant agencies and other stakeholders".

'In limbo'

Speaking before the kick-off time was confirmed Jimmy Smith, from the Sheffield United podcast Blades Ramble, said the delay was "ludicrous" and "disgusting".

He added: "Fans need to know what's happening. We can't be in limbo.

"It's not just Sheffield United fans who need to know but Sunderland fans who have an even longer journey to make.

"People need to make their arrangements."

He added: "I don't blame the club. The club are doing everything they can to communicate what's happening to the fanbase. I just think it's pretty disgusting."

Mark Ansell/BBC A picture of a smiling Jimmy Smith. He has short hair and is wearing a black hoodie. He is sitting next to a microphone. Behind him is a red sofa and a wall filled with framed Sheffield United posters.Mark Ansell/BBC
Podcaster and Sheffield United fan Jimmy Smith said ers had been treated in a "disgusting" way

Fellow er James Kemp said: "They talk about key stakeholders being involved in discussions. Where are the fans in that?

"It's just madness and it's getting to the stage where the fans and powers-that-be are in a toxic relationship because they just don't care about the fans anymore."

The Blades Fans Advisory Board said the "lack of empathy, understanding, comion, communication and care of fans needs addressing".

Writing on X, it added: "This level of service would be totally unacceptable in any other industry."

Sky Sports, which is set to broadcast the game, referred the BBC back to the EFL for comment when asked to explain what input it had had into discussions.

The Sunderland ers Association has been ed for comment.

'Disrupted journeys'

Dan Matthews, Network Rail's head of operations delivery, said: "We are sorry that fans heading to Wembley will have disrupted journeys on the bank holiday weekend.

"Our engineers are carrying out upgrades to the overhead power lines which will make services more reliable and enable the introduction of EMR's new trains.

"We are also installing new drainage and maintaining track.

"Engineering work like this is planned years in advance to coordinate dates, resources and people across the rail network."

Asked if it wanted to respond to fans' concerns, the EFL said it had nothing further to add.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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