Portsmouth make special request to EFL ahead of Championship fixtures release
BBC broadcaster Andrew Moon has revealed Portsmouth have made a request to the EFL regarding their Championship fixtures.
Posting on X [18 June], Moon says the club have asked the EFL to hand them an away fixture to kick off their 2024-25 Championship season, though this will be at the discretion of the league.
Portsmouth will discover their league fixtures for the coming year on 26 June at 9am, and wish to play away first to allow more time for redevelopment work on Fratton Park to be completed.
Portsmouth wish to start season away, but EFL’s call
Moon’s social media post was part of a discussion with Pompey supporters regarding any hints as to where John Mousinho’s team will begin their league campaign.
Works on Fratton Park – namely the construction of a new TV gantry – are the primary reason why the club wish to have an extra week before hosting a Championship match.
The Premier League fixtures have already been released, with rivals Southampton learning that they will begin their league season on 17 June away from home – usually implying Portsmouth will be at home.
Pompey begin a week earlier on 10 June, and this may mean the Blues do in fact start away from home next season and would see the club’s wish granted.
Previous instances of this have included when Sunderland wished to begin away from home in the 2022-23 season following concerts at the Stadium of Light the previous summer, but the EFL turned out to pit them at home to Coventry City for their 31 July opener.
Everton this week had a request granted to play their final home game at Goodison Park on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League weekend this coming season.
In other Portsmouth news, Mousinho has shared what he expects from Connor Ogilvie in his first-ever season at Championship level.
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