The chief executive of the Football League, Shaun Harvey, has admitted that the EFL are effectively writing off midweek attendances to ensure packed houses at weekends.
Harvey says 'conscious scheduling decisions' means fans will continue having to make long away trips in midweek.
EFL chiefs have been widely criticised by supporters over the scheduling of certain midweek fixtures during the early part of the season.
In last week's midweek clashes across the three divisions, Norwich fans were forced to make the gruelling 456 mile round trip to Middlesbrough to witness their side's 1-0 victory in the Championship.
In the second tier, Plymouth fans travelled 570 miles there and back to see their side at League One promotion hopefuls Wigan, while in league Two Stevenage supporters made the 541 mile journey to Brunton Park for their meeting with Carlisle.
Similarly, on September 12, Blackpool fans were handed the daunting 640 mile trip to Plymouth to see their side in action on a Tuesday night - one of the longest trips in the Football League this season - as opposed to something more local. On the same evening, Morecambe made the 526 mile journey to Yeovil and back.
"We make that scheduling choice to get bigger games at weekends because that provides better atmosphere and increases gate revenue for clubs," Harvey told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The flip side is that those games that are at a distance have to go into midweek.
"It is a deliberate act - but the reason for it is to ensure we get bigger crowds at weekends rather than lower crowds in the midweek."
Most Read
Midweek attendances continue to dwindle and are unlikely to be helped by the "revolutionary" new £600million deal the EFL have struck with Sky Sports, for live domestic rights from 2019-2024.
Sky will be offering all Football League clubs the opportunity to live stream any league match that doesn’t take place on Saturday at 3pm.