PLANS to switch Widnes Vikings home fixtures to Friday or Thursday evenings next season will be vitally important to team preparation, according to head coach Steve McCormack.

As the most popular team in Co-Operative National League One, Widnes Vikings believe they are likely to attract at least four or five “live games” that will be televised on Sky Sports on Thursday evenings in 2009.

Mr McCormack said: “With so many matches likely to be scheduled for Thursday evenings, it makes sense to try to play as many of our home games as possible on a Friday evening, which will be a tremendous help to my overall team preparations.

“In terms of preparation, it is not ideal trying to work around a programme of playing Sundays and Thursdays.

“It makes much more sense to organising our training and fitness programmes towards home match days that fall either on a Thursday or a Friday“.”

While some fans have voiced concern at the proposals to switch from the traditional Sunday slot, club chairman Steve O’Connor is convinced the move is in the best interest of the club.

He said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we have done our research. We need to avoid fixture clashes with other big sports events in the region.”

Full story in this week’s Weekly News.