WANDERERS fans could face a tricky round trip to the capital if they plan to watch their team on the opening day of the season at Leyton Orient.

Fixtures for the 2024/25 campaign were released yesterday with the news that all League One games on Saturday, August 10, would kick-off at 5.30pm to satisfy Sky Sports’ new broadcast agreement.

And if that did not make life difficult enough for the Whites supporters, the game will also be played on the same day as the Community Shield, which this year will see Manchester United face Manchester City at Wembley, which will place a heavy strain on public transport.

Police, local authorities and the relevant clubs have signed off on the opening day schedule, which will also see supporters from League One rivals Blackpool heading south to Crawley on the first weekend of the season, their game also kicking off at 5.30pm.

United and City kick-off at 3pm in North London – a game which could potentially be extended by penalties and the trophy award.

Tickets have not yet gone on sale for Bolton’s trip to Leyton Orient but the allocation is thought to be around 1,200.

Wanderers will welcome Wrexham to the Toughsheet Stadium for the first time on August 17, with former manager Phil Parkinson relishing the prospect of taking the Welsh club back into the third tier for the first time in 19 years.

"Now there's the excitement of some of the grounds we are going to go to next season for our supporters,” he said. "When you think two or three years ago we were going to Aldershot, Boreham Wood and teams like that, now we are going to Birmingham and Bolton.

"Some great stadiums to go and play at and it is going to be so exciting for everybody. We are really looking forward to it."

Wanderers face Barnsley at home on Boxing Day and will travel to newly promoted Mansfield Town on New Year’s Day.

They finish the season with a home game against Stevenage on May 3.

Local games include a home clash with Wigan Athletic on Saturday, December 14, with the away fixture scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, on police advice.

Wanderers travel to Stockport County’s Edgeley Park on Saturday, November 9 and host the Hatters on Saturday, March 15.

Fans are also advised that the fixture list is likely to change from the version released yesterday to accommodate Sky Sports’ scheduling under the new agreement. The broadcaster has pledged to confirm all changes by July 3, which will allow supporters to make plans up to FA Cup third round weekend on January 11, 2025.

International breaks are another issue to bear in mind, with home and away games against Rotherham United (November 16 and March 22), plus trips to Cambridge United (September 7) and Stevenage (October 12) also falling on weekends where Wanderers are highly likely to request the game to be rescheduled.

Ian Evatt brings his squad back in for pre-season fitness testing at Lostock today, with the full first team squad and staff flying out to Portugal on Friday for an intensive training camp.