KEY POINTS:
A date for the New Zealand Football Championship final has been set, but it won't be on a weekend.
Competitions manager Glynn Taylor said today the final between Waitakere United and Auckland City had been set for 7.30pm on April 16, a Monday, at North Harbour Stadium.
Factors outside the control of New Zealand Soccer had made a weekend date for the final before the end of April impossible, he said.
"The decision to play the final on a Monday was not taken lightly but we wanted to give football fans across the country the opportunity to watch the final live, either on television or by paying through the turnstiles at North Harbour Stadium."
The major factor in the decision to play the final on a Monday was Sky Television's commitment to other codes at the weekend.
The start of domestic soccer leagues around the country also meant that many players and fans around the country would have been unable to attend the final on a Saturday or Sunday.
Other issues included the unavailability of Waitakere's home ground at Douglas Field.
The re-development of the ground at the Trusts Stadium meant an alternative venue in Auckland had to be found.
- NZPA
