Bernstein hopeful over avoiding final clash

FA chairman David Bernstein remains hopeful that next season’s FA Cup final will not clash with any Premier League fixtures.

Bernstein is holding talks with the Premier League in a bid to avoid a repeat of last season’s situation, when Manchester City won the FA Cup on the same day as Manchester United won the title.

The FA Cup final was moved earlier last season because Wembley hosted the Champions League final and the same will now happen in 2013. The 2012 Euro Champion-ships mean next season has to be completed by May 12 and 2014 is a World Cup year.

But the FA have been told that Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is exploring ways of juggling the fixtures, with the aim of keep Saturday clear for the cup final.

“Our ambition is to have the FA Cup final back as the last game of the season,” said Bernstein.

“We are also working very hard with the Premier League and other authorities to have the FA Cup final on a day to itself. We were very reassured with the last cup final.

“It happened on a day there were other Premier League matches and the title was decided but there was no question it (the cup final) dominated the day.”

The FA are looking to move the cup final from its usual 3 p.m. slot to a 5.15 p.m. kick-off in future.