FA PREMIERSHIP: International managers Brian Kerr, Sven Goran Eriksson, Berti Vogts and Mark Hughes will have a week less to prepare for a possible European Championship campaign following the publication yesterday of the fixture lists for next season.

The FA Cup final will take place on May 22nd, a week after the end of the Premier League season, with Euro 2004 kicking off on June 15th.

The FA and the Premier League both insisted there had been little room for manoeuvre due to international, Champions League and UEFA Cup dates - the Champions League final is on May 26th.

Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "It is a perennial issue but we have to fit in with Champions League and UEFA Cup dates and international fixtures. We don't set those dates.

"We have agreed with the FA that the FA Cup final should be the last game of the season, but the dates could not have been brought forward because of the European and international structure."

FA spokesman Andrin Cooper added: "Ideally there would be a larger break but a solution has to be found that allows for all these dates."

The fixture computer has thrown up a tough opening clash on August 16th for champions Manchester United with a visit from Bolton, the only side to beat them at Old Trafford in the Premiership last season.

Arsenal will face Everton and Wayne Rooney at Highbury in their first match, while Chelsea go to Liverpool, the side they beat at Stamford Bridge to secure the final Champions League place.

There is also an intriguing clash at Leeds where Newcastle - and those controversial Elland Road old boys Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer - visit.

Boss Peter Reid said: "The fact that some of our ex-players are coming back in Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate will make it interesting to say the least, and it's always good pitting your wits against Bobby Robson."

Premiership new-boys Wolves visit Blackburn, Division One champions Portsmouth have a home start against Aston Villa, while the other promoted side, Leicester, host Southampton.

Other highlights of the Premiership calendar include Manchester United versus Arsenal at Old Trafford on September 20th with the return on March 27th.

Noteworthy dates include the Merseyside derby at Everton on August 30th and the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on October 18th.