CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has given his backing to Saturday night kick-offs in the Premier League – but admits he has sympathy with supporters over the proposal.

League chiefs are considering adding 7.45pm kick-offs to the fixture schedule in 2019-20 in a bid to take advantage of extra television revenue.

The proposal was reportedly made at a meeting attended by Premier League chairman last month in light of the fact as many as 30 additional games will be broadcast under the new deal.

At present, matches are shown on Friday nights, Saturday lunch-time and tea-time, on Sunday afternoons and on Monday evenings.

Around 190 games a season are set to be shown from 2019-20 but the idea of 7.45pm starts on Saturdays have not been well received by some supporters.

Asked for his take on the matter, Howe told the Daily Echo: “I think if you asked every manager around the country when they would like to kick-off, it would probably be 3pm on Saturday because that is what historically we have been accustomed to.

“The Premier League has changed that through time. Every club is more adaptable in terms of playing Sundays and Mondays.

“Kicking-off at 7.45pm on a Saturday would be no different to kicking-off at 7.45pm on a Tuesday so I wouldn’t be against it. If it works for the Premier League, it is something we would gladly do.

“You always have sympathy for supporters when they are travelling huge distances at big costs and the kick-off times make that more inconvenient. That’s when everyone has real sympathy for supporters.”