Midweek extra card is a no-go

Jun 15 2008

SPL CHIEF Iain Blair last night laughed off Barry Robson's plea for more midweek games at the start of the season - and claimed he would need to reinvent the calendar to do it.

The Celtic midfielder thinks a blast of fixtures in August and September could solve the problems that wrecked last term's league campaign.

But as the SPL prepared to unveil next season's card secretary Blair grinned: "I heard what Barry said but unless he's actually going to create more weeks in the year for us I'm not sure howwe would cram them in.

"Our season starts on August 9 and finishes on May 24 - giving 42 weekends and 41 midweeks.

"Only 35 weekends are ours after cup and international games and we use them all. One also has the CIS Cup Final.

"And only 10 midweeks are available to us. We've used three for next season which leaves seven spare.

"But five are from Christmas Eve to January 21.

"And two are liable to be used for Scottish Cup replays or postponements.

"So this idea that we have a whole load of dates we could be using is not justifiable."

Blair also admitted the SPL are considering a return to full-on derby days after next season.

He said: "There was a good reason for separating the derbies because it gave each match an opportunity to be the key game of the weekend.

"But there has been discussion recently that having a day where all the derbies are played has other benefits.

"For this year we have maintained the same broad rules as in previous years so we won't have a derby day as such.

"But it will be something we will revisit and we will take the clubs' views on it."