Why are the fixtures out so late?

Next season's National League North fixtures will be released next Friday (July 10).

However, it raises the question as to why they're out so late. The Premier League released their fixtures on June 19 - just under four weeks after the 2025/26 campaign finished.

Six days later, the EFL fixtures were out which also included the draw for the preliminary round and first round of the Carabao Cup.

So why couldn't the National League fixtures, along with the North and South, be released this week? 

Even the Hellenic League - where Westfields and Hereford Pegasus ply their trade - announced their fixtures their fixtures this week. Both clubs also know their FA Cup and Vase opponents with those draws being made today (Friday). 

Because the Step 3 and 4 leagues released their fixtures a week after the National League, fans of those clubs will have to wait until July 17.

Why they couldn't come out next Friday, with the National League announcing theirs today, who knows.