Hearts: Jim Jefferies wants SPL to reinstate winter break

• Hearts players limber up on a beach on the Algarve ten years ago

SPL chief Neil Doncaster hinted earlier this week that the re-introduction of a winter break could be a possibility in the future, saying he favoured that ahead of a switch to summer football in a bid to overcome the sort of cold snap disrupting fixtures at the moment.

Jefferies was in his first spell as Hearts manager when a January shutdown was last implemented, using the time to recharge batteries as well as taking his players to Portugal for a week's work to help get them prepared for the second half of the campaign.

He believes fans also benefit from such a break, especially when money is tight after Christmas and New Year, but says any decision to re-introduce one can't be based on weather, due to the fact fixtures can be hit at any time during the winter months.

"I'm a supporter of the proposal for a winter break and, with Neil Doncaster having come out this week and talked about that possibly coming back in, we'll just have to wait and see what comes of that," said Jefferies.

"I liked the winter break because it allowed you to get the team away at a time when pitches aren't great. Even when it's not snowing, pitches become heavy and clubs used to ship everyone away for a good week's training with sun on their back at a good facility."

In Hearts' case, that was the Barringtons' complex on the Algarve, where Jefferies and his coaching staff had a full-size pitch on their doorstep and also did some work on the nearby beach.

"It did have a benefit but whether clubs can afford to do it now might be a problem," added the Hearts boss. "If it does come in, not all the clubs will be able to get away due to finances being so tight.

"I still believe games should go ahead on Boxing Day and New Year's Day as they traditionally attract big crowds. You know what it is like after a great day celebrating Christmas. People look forward to a game the following day.

"But, after the festivities are over, I think people would probably look forward to getting a couple of weeks' break from football before getting back into it again at the end of January.It's not for weather because you can't judge that here. It would be more for just a break for everyone. The problem, of course, is that if the weather is bad after you come back, you could then be faced with a further spell without matches."

Highlighting some of the problems Hearts have faced this week due to the heavy snow and plummeting temperatures, Jefferies said: "It has been very difficult for everyone, though we've probably been better than most clubs.

"While other people are running around running around trying to share Torryglen, which is a great facility, and fit in with the times there, we've got our own facility, the trouble, of course, has been getting here and that has been especially difficult for the boys from Glasgow. We had one of our staff, the radiotherapist, stuck on the road on Monday. He managed to struggle in for the morning but, as it started to hit hard, he decided to leave early at 1.00pm but it was 4.00am before he got home. I phoned him the next day and said 'have a day in bed', in fact I said 'don't come in for a couple of days'.

"It has also been difficult for me (in Lauder). I'm expecting a cheque from Borders Regional Council after the amount of snow I've shifted from my road this week! The trouble, of course, is that when the plough comes around it shifts it back into my entrance, which I've not been happy with. If I had left it, I wouldn't have been out yet but it is soul destroying when you look out the next morning and it's all been piled back up again.

"I made an attempt on Monday and got within 15 minutes of the place but had to turn back due to the mayhem on the road. Tuesday I couldn't travel but we got to the beach at Portobello on Wednesday and, when the tide was out, the sand was firm enough for us to do some work and get some fresh air in about the lungs. That was great because being indoors all the time isn't great due to the fact you can pick up injuries.

"The boys have been great as they've all tried to get in. Everyone has been in same boat and you've just got to get on with it."

Thankfully, Hearts were back in action against Aberdeen at Tynecastle today, with Jefferies praising the work that was carried out by stadium staff to repair damage caused by the snow.

"The damage has been unbelievable but people worked through the night on Thursday to get it sorted and it's great the game is on," he commented. "The pitch is ideal, though the two dugouts have taken a bit of battering – so I hope it's not raining!" The problem, of course, is that if the weather is bad after you come back, you could then be faced with a further spell without matches."

Highlighting some of the problems Hearts have faced this week due to the heavy snow and plummeting temperatures, Jefferies said: "It has been very difficult for everyone, though we've probably been better than most clubs.

"While other people are running around running around trying to share Torryglen, which is a great facility, and fit in with the times there, we've got our own facility, the trouble, of course, has been getting here and that has been especially difficult for the boys from Glasgow. We had one of our staff, the radiotherapist, stuck on the road on Monday. He managed to struggle in for the morning but, as it started to hit hard, he decided to leave early at 1.00pm but it was 4.00am before he got home. I phoned him the next day and said ‘have a day in bed', in fact I said ‘don't come in for a couple of days'.

"It has also been difficult for me (in Lauder). I'm expecting a cheque from Borders Regional Council after the amount of snow I've shifted from my road this week! The trouble, of course, is that when the plough comes around it shifts it back into my entrance, which I've not been happy with. If I had left it, I wouldn't have been out yet but it is soul destroying when you look out the next morning and it's all been piled back up again.

"I made an attempt on Monday and got within 15 minutes of the place but had to turn back due to the mayhem on the road. Tuesday I couldn't travel but we got to the beach at Portobello on Wednesday and, when the tide was out, the sand was firm enough for us to do some work and get some fresh air in about the lungs. That was great because being indoors all the time isn't great due to the fact you can pick up injuries.

"The boys have been great as they've all tried to get in. Everyone has been in same boat and you've just got to get on with it."

Thankfully, Hearts were back in action against Aberdeen at Tynecastle today, with Jefferies praising the work that was carried out by stadium staff to repair damage caused by the snow.

"The damage has been unbelievable but people worked through the night on Thursday to get it sorted and it's great the game is on," he commented. "The pitch is ideal, though the two dugouts have taken a bit of battering - so I hope it's not raining!"

"I think people would probably look forward to getting a couple of weeks' break from football" jim jefferies