Neil Hart believes FA Cup replays must be kept in place despite calls to reduce the schedule from some people in the game.

It has been a major talking point over the past couple of years amid suggestions all ties should be decided on the day.

Wanderers will now welcome Luton to the Toughsheet Community Stadium in a third-round replay following their stalemate at Kenilworth Road, and chief executive Hart says it is still very much a big deal for League One clubs.

While he appreciates the challenges it can cause for clubs at the top of the Premier League and in Europe, Hart reckons it is an important part of maintaining the “magic of the cup”.

“As a League One chief executive, I am very in favour of them because getting Luton back up north is very lucrative for us,” he told BBC 5 Live.

“Twenty thousand people at the Toughsheet Community Stadium is a good six-figure pay day for us. From that point of view, it is positive.

“I don’t buy into this scheduling thing and remember, I was a Premier League chief executive (at Burnley) before I took office here so I do see the other side of the coin.

“I think yes, when you are at the top of the Premier League and competing in multiple competitions, I sort of get the scheduling debate.

“But I think, for League One clubs and for a team like Luton, there is nothing wrong with scheduling a replay so I am definitely in favour of them.

“I think it also adds to the magic of the FA Cup, there have been some unbelievable replays over the years at various stadiums and with various clubs. For me, they have got to stay.”


You can follow our dedicated Wanderers accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.