Aer Lingus fee to change time

This will teach me not to be organised and book early.

I've booked return flights Dublin to Manchester , flight going out is on 30th December. At the time of booking we wanted the morning flight not only was it cheaper but it gave us more time but this time of year is normally very busy for my Husband and we had to book the afternoon flight so he could work that morning.
Recently the business he works for closed down so obviously he wont be working that day and now we'd love to change to the earlier flight. I've looked on the website and it seems to be €40 pp to change , as theres 4 of us going the cost to change is more or less the cost of the flight.
Does anyone know if there is a way around this charge or are we stuck with our original flight. I was thinking because the flight we booked was and still is dearer than the one we want that we might be able to do something. Well more I was hoping.

If it turns out we have to stay on the original flight then so be it but the earlier one would suit us so much better.