Carlisle United fans are facing a late-night marathon journey on the last day of the season.

The EFL tonight announced that all League Two games on Saturday, May 6 will now kick off at 5.30pm - two and a half hours later than originally scheduled.

The change, which will see at least one game in the division shown live on Sky Sports, will mean an extremely late night for Blues fans returning from United's game at Exeter.

It is likely to see Carlisle's travelling fans returning home at around 2-3am at the end of the 694-mile round trip to Devon, after a game which could be crucial to United's promotion hopes.

Yet the controversial move has been hailed by United director John Nixon who, in his role as League Two representative on the EFL board, said the decision will allow "more fans" to watch the division's dramatic final moments.

It has not yet been decided which game will be televised. Currently games are not allowed to be screened live at the traditional 3pm kick-off time on Saturdays.

In an EFL statement Nixon said: “The final day of the regular season is always a tense and dramatic day for all supporters whether you are sitting in the stands or watching on TV.

“The change means more and more football fans up and down the country will now be able to see the season finale and witness first-hand the contribution League Two clubs have made to another fantastic campaign in the EFL.

“It is also important that we are able to notify supporters of this change well in advance to allow plenty of time for any alterations to travel plans that may be required.”

United's game at Exeter last season was held up for more than an hour after a stand at St James' Park had to be evacuated because a teenage fan let off a smoke grenade in a toilet.

Kick-off times have also been changed for the final day of the Championship and League One seasons.

The second-tier's last games will start at 12pm on Sunday, May 7 with League One's final round of matches getting under way at 12pm on Sunday, April 30.