Paul Ince goes into an amusing rant aimed at the EFL and Sky Sports ahead of the upcoming game between Reading and Preston on Friday.
The Royals boss was asked why his side are being shown on Sky Sports so much, with comments coming after the decision to move his side’s scheduled Championship games on Boxing Day and on New Year’s Day.
The home game against Swansea City, which was originally due to take place the day after Christmas, is now going ahead at 5:15pm on Tuesday, the 27th of December while the away match at West Brom is at 3pm on Monday, January 2nd having initially been down to take place on New Year’s Day.
Both sides were in action on Tuesday evening and must go again three days later, and for Preston, it’s their penultimate game before the winter break. After Friday, Reading still have two more games to play out before the World Cup gets underway.
Paul Ince, who isn’t the most popular of figures among the Preston fans due to his previous spell at Blackpool – is hoping to get his side back on track having picked up one win from their last seven matches.
However, he is unimpressed by his side’s intense fixture schedule and feels that the broadcasters are going overkill with regards to his side’s games this year.
“It is a shame,” said Ince when questioned about the movement of fixtures at the end of December. “Where is it coming from? Who’s deciding this? Is it the EFL or Sky? We accept that we get punished for breaching the rules two years ago and we accept the embargo.
On Reading’s fixture pile up, he added: “I think it’s madness.
“You’re asking the same players to go to the well.
“When you’re asking the same players to play four games in 11 days it is unfair.
“They’re not robots, they’re human beings.
“I believe if we play the way we can, we can go anywhere and put in a good performance.
“They’re games we can win so I’m not worried, but I’m worried about injuries.
“Tom Holmes has a calf soreness at the moment, he did well to last the game, so they’re piling up.”
SEE MORE: Latest EFL TV selections for December and January revealed
“We created some good chances – but we need to be clinical”
Paul Ince gives his thoughts on our draw with Luton Town.#LUTREA pic.twitter.com/mgJ70jLIEk
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) November 1, 2022
This is what fans said as Paul Ince goes into an amusing rant aimed at the EFL and Sky Sports ahead of the Reading v Preston game…
@JonHyde1871: A master class from @PaulInce to make a point to @SkySport You force us to play lots of matches in a short period. We’ll show you #readingfc
@TED247: Go on Incey boyyy
@AndyRFCCharman: Given how much Sky are now featuring us, have we become ‘Paul Ince’s Reading’? #readingfc
@IPA101: Really poor. I know we need Sky money, but the Boxing and New Year’s Day fixtures should not be moved. Not great for the fans.
@cordery180786: Sky is starting to piss me off moving games….
@RayTheRoyal: Why are people moaning? Extra day off for players coming back from World Cup…
@AndyRFCCharman: Simple. People had made their Christmas travel (international in some cases) plans around it being on the 26th. They can’t now attend. Sky should not be able to move holiday fixtures this late.
@RGray46: Thanks Sky – another home game I’ll have to miss due to work commitments. Might as well not have bothered getting a season ticket 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
@JamieCollis1995: 2 years in a row now with no Boxing Day fixture, festive fixtures should not be changed!
@brockswayroyal: Christmas plans, travel plans, hotel – all messed up. @SkyFootbal you couldn’t even announce them at the same time as @premierleague to cover off other family season ticket holders affected. Very poor.
@russell1871: So three KO times changed so a handful of people can watch one game on TV. Nice. #readingfc
@Munro_888: Utter disgrace. Plans already made around the boxing day game now ruined. Xmas fixtures should be fixed way sooner and not changed – this affects more than the attending fan it affects family and friends too. Super upset 😡
@ronniemac93: Sky really do take the fucking piss
@LukeB_RFC: Shite. No one cares about sky we want a Boxing Day game Ffs
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