AN ENFORCED kick-off time switch due to a cup-day football fixture clash has met with an angry response from one of the North-East's major clubs.

The 3rd Round draw for the FA and Scottish cups, made earlier this month, saw all three senior clubs in the Northumbria Police area given home ties.

Newcastle United and Sunderland usually play their home league fixtures on alternate weekends, but both were given home 3rd Round ties on Saturday January 5.

Police match-day cover will be further stretched after Scottish League minnows Berwick Rangers, whose Shielfield Park ground lies in the far northern end of the Northumbria force area, were drawn at home to Glasgow giants Rangers on the same day in the Tennents Scottish Cup.

As a result the force has now requested separate kick-off times to ensure the games pass off peacefully.

But the decision to bring forward Sunderland's kick-off against West Bromwich Albion to 12.30pm has not gone down well at the Stadium of Light.

Newcastle United were given preference for the usual 3pm kick-off slot, against Crystal Palace at St James' Park, while Berwick's David versus Goliath televised clash with Rangers will start at 5.30pm.

Sunderland AFC chairman Bob Murray described the move as "unacceptable", enforcing early morning starts for many fans planning to travel for the game.

He said the club was "disappointed" that the decision was not made until just before Christmas, more than a fortnight after both draws were made.

"Tickets for the match have been on sale since December 12 and many of our fans will be seriously inconvenienced.

"Sunderland AFC has a large number of fans who travel ong distances to attend home games.

"In many cases they will have already made travel arrangements which could also mean they are out of pocket, as well as inconvenienced."

Opponents West Bromwich Albion are also unhappy at the switch as upto 4,000 Baggies' fans are expected to make the journey, enforcing a pre-dawn departure to reach Wearside on time from the Black Country.

Northumbria Police said manpower may be stretched if all games start simultaneously and their priority is spectator safety.