AT THIS time of year and all the way to May, the FA Cup generally creates a fever unknown anywhere else in the world.

Unfortunately, the magic is dying due to the TV rights by major television companies.

The draw is made for the next round while a match is still being played, and another tie is due to take place the following evening - which inconveniences the fans.

I believe 600 tickets were sent back to Preston by Arsenal - unsold for the Monday night game.

Had the game been on a Saturday, every ticket would have been sold by Arsenal.

Years ago, all games kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday and the draw was made on radio on the Monday lunchtime with all the nation tuned in to the excitement.

Now, we have it live on TV, done by two football "greats" - which I agree with.

But, please, let's not have it until all the previous round's games have been played.

It's only a matter of time before the final itself will lose its 3pm Saturday slot due to TV interests and will end up being played on a Sunday morning so it doesn't clash with something else.

Even replays of the final are out - extra time and penalties will decide the winner this year, whereas, years ago, the match was played until a winner was found. Even in the other early rounds, one replay is allowed before penalties decide the outcome.

Years ago, you could have five or six matches before a winner was found - FA Cup magic!

But in my opinion the fever and magic of the FA Cup is slowly dwindling due to the "powers that be" and TV rights.

Let's have things as they were, with replays two or three days after the original tie too, because 10 days or so afterwards, like it is now, you've forgotten there was even a Cup-tie in the first place!

Up to now the FA Cup has not lost its pulling power, but it is in grave danger of losing its tag as the greatest knockout competition in the world.

Don't spoil it, for heaven's sake!

M HIBBERT, Ivan Street, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.