SPL refuses to rule out return of winter break

THE Scottish Premier League has declared itself open to the idea of resurrecting a winter break but warned against a knee-jerk reaction to the big freeze.

Scotland is in the grip of its harshest winter for almost half a century, according to First Minster Alex Salmond, something which has seen the sporting schedule decimated in recent weeks.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith is reportedly seeking talks with the SPL and Scottish Football League aimed at changing the structure of the season.

Smith, who has recently been championing summer football, has long argued for a four-week January shutdown.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster has also said he appreciates the benefits of such a break but insists something would have to give in a congested calendar.

An SPL spokesman said: "We're obviously aware of Gordon's views about winter breaks and summer football.

"Neil has made it clear that a winter break is a good idea.

"Trying to fit all the fixtures in – ten months of fixtures – into eight or nine months is difficult given all the other pressures. So if there's an opportunity to sit down then of course we'd be happy to do that."

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo revealed earlier in the week he would be happy to forgo half his side's lucrative fixtures against the Old Firm and play in a league of 14-16 teams on a home and away basis. The SPL spokesman added: "We've got a relatively new chief executive here and a new chairman and they're not going to rule anything in or out.

"I think it's important though we don't make broad strategic decisions as a kneejerk reaction to what is – by all accounts – the worst winter in 30 years.

"When we're discussing league structure, that's a much broader discussion than purely slotting in a winter break.

"You have to look at the impact that's going to have on quality of players and teams, the impact it's going to have on our clubs in Europe, the impact it's going to have on attendances, on commercial revenues, broadcasting revenues."

SFL chief executive David Longmuir is also ready to listen to what Smith has to say. "I suppose the key question is: when is the appropriate time for a winter break?" Longmuir said. Our experience in the last five years is that games go off for different reasons from November right through to March. This is an exceptional set of circumstances."

Longmuir also revealed the issue of summer football was likely to be on the agenda at the next meeting of all SFL clubs in February. He said the SFL could be prepared to go it alone in changing the calendar if there was enough backing for the idea. But he insisted there was no chance of the Co-operative Insurance Cup being scrapped to free up midweek fixtures for a winter break.

"The Co-operative Insurance Cup is one of Scotland's biggest sport sponsorship investments and we would fight to protect that tooth and nail," Longmuir said.