Danny Hunter renews DAZN criticism as Carlisle again handed awkward kick-off

Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter has once more spoken out against the National League's broadcast arrangements with DAZN, this time in comments carried by BBC Sport ahead of another evening fixture involving Carlisle United. His frustration centres on a familiar target, the streaming company's habit of scheduling games involving well-supported travelling clubs at times that make the journey home difficult.

Carlisle caught out again

Hunter pointed to Carlisle's trip to Wealdstone the previous Friday as the clearest recent example, where a 7.45pm kick-off left fans who would usually travel by train unable to get back. He argued that supporters at Carlisle and Southend in particular are regularly put in this position, and questioned how many more times clubs would be expected to accept it. His frustration was compounded by the fact that another Carlisle fixture was facing the same issue that same evening.

Owners left to make the case themselves

Part of Hunter's frustration is that criticism of the scheduling has fallen to club chairmen rather than the League itself. He feels it has become embarrassing that owners like him are the ones left to flag the issue repeatedly, with no support from the League in pushing back on DAZN's approach to fixture timing.

A call for fan action

Hunter went further than in previous statements by suggesting supporters themselves should take a stand. He floated the idea of a coordinated boycott of DAZN streams by away fans across the division, and said he would personally encourage it if he were part of a supporters' group rather than a club chairman. He also urged the League's board to explore ending the arrangement altogether, criticising not just the kick-off times but the standard of coverage, including camera work, commentary and sound quality.

Part of a wider pattern

This is not an isolated gripe. Hunter has used his own club's programme notes on several occasions this season to raise the same concerns, previously highlighting Carlisle's away trip to Southend as another case where a late kick-off left the away end well below what it would normally be. Taken together, his comments point to a chairman increasingly willing to use any platform available, from matchday notes to national broadcasters, to press the issue on behalf of clubs and supporters he feels are being overlooked in the League's deal with its streaming partner.