Leeds United schedule shaken up by FA in new measures that could impact pre-season

Replays have been scrapped in the FA Cup for Leeds United and their rivals from next season while the Premier League season will start later and there will be no mid-season break. Should the Whites win promotion next month, they would be given a longer summer break before a mid-August start to the top-flight campaign.

The overhaul comes as part of a new six-year agreement between The Football Association and Premier League that sees £33m of fresh investment reach the grassroots level. The widest-reaching change comes with the scrapping of replays from the first round onwards.

Dozens of matches, including lucrative opportunities for non-league outfits, will be wiped from the calendar as a result of the decision. All matches from the first round onwards will now be decided on the day, with no chance for minnows to take giants back to their ground or vice versa for extra ticketing cash.

READ MORE: Leeds United reinjury fear forces Daniel Farke's hand in selection decision

All rounds of the competition will also be played on weekends now, in an effort to get more eyes on games in higher-profile slots. The fifth round, for example, has been played in midweek for the past five years.

In starting the season later in August, the top flight has also axed the short-lived mid-season break in January. Clubs will now play through the winter period, but can expect weekends off on cup weekends if they have exited the competition.

FA Cup rounds will have entire weekends exclusive of Premier League football, to ensure interest is not diluted.

"The FA Cup is our biggest asset," said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham. "This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.

"We have also agreed new funding for the grassroots game, disability football and the women's and girls' game. All football begins at the grassroots, and this is recognised by the Premier League with very welcome additional financial support."