SPL face Tayside fixture chaos after AGM ruling

Published on 17/07/2012 00:00

The SPL were last night facing up to a fixtures nightmare following the decision to promote Dundee to the top-flight in place of Rangers.

The ruling has presented both the Dens Park side and close neighbours Dundee United with a logistical headache in dealing with clashes in their schedules for the coming season.

The Dundee rivals are now programmed to be at home on the same day on nine occasions.

Following the first Tayside derby on 18 August, the problems start on 15 September, just six weeks into the campaign, when Dundee are due to host Motherwell and Dundee United are lined up to play Ross County at home.

It is a scenario that is repeated on 20 October and three times in November, twice in December – including on Boxing Day – once in January and again in February.

The SPL will now be forced to seek a remedy to each fixture clash as they clear up yet another aspect of the mess left by Rangers’ liquidation.

A spokesperson said: “We are obviously aware there are clashes and we will now speak to both clubs to seek a solution.”

Some of the fixtures may be moved to accommodate live television anyway, but Hampden officials will be hoping the clubs can agree the necessary switches to Sundays and, with two clashes occurring on Wednesdays, on 28 November and 26 December, to either a Tuesday or Thursday.

The SFL are also facing a potential headache in dealing with Rangers’ adoption of Stranraer’s fixtures in the Third Division.

The schedules now leave the Old Firm at home on the same day on three occasions, with that scenario unacceptable to the 
authorities on safety grounds.