SPL selects 14 August start for next season

The SPL board of directors rejected requests from some of their 12 clubs to begin the 2010-11 campaign a week earlier, on 7 August, which would entail one less midweek fixture later in the season.

Instead, it has been decided to go ahead on the same starting weekend as the English Premier League, opening the door for negotiations with major clubs down south for friendly games on 7 August.

"This year, the SPL Board considered three possible start dates for season 2010/2011: 31 July, 7 August and 14 August," said SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster. "Consensus amongst clubs seemed to be that either 7 or 14 August were the preferred dates.

"Some clubs were in favour of a 7 August start date. Their reasons were that an earlier start date gave the SPL maximum impact and would enable clubs to bring in cash slightly earlier. It would also mean one less midweek fixture later in the season.

"Other clubs, particularly those who stood a good chance of taking part in lucrative friendly matches over the weekend of 31 July/1 August, pointed to the lost revenue that a 31 July start date would cause, as well as the fact that a number of their players were away in South Africa for the World Cup – players who might be playing football as late as 10 or 11 July.

"Whenever a decision like this has to be reached, the one key question that the SPL Board asks itself is this: what is in the best interests of the SPL as a whole?

"Answering that question, the view was that a 7 August start date would be of some benefit to the majority of clubs. A 14 August start date, by contrast, would be of significant benefit to a smaller number of clubs. On balance, the SPL Board took the view that, in this instance, a 14 August start date should be chosen."

Doncaster, in his regular blog on www.scotprem.com, said the SPL board were keen to avoid the furore of this season when they found themselves at loggerheads with the SFA over the start date.

"Because of the very public disagreement over the start date for season 2009/2010, it is more important than ever to be transparent about why the SPL has chosen 14 August as the start date for season 2010/2011," says Doncaster.

"Last year, it is fair to say that the season start date was one of the more controversial decisions reached at Hampden Park. The SFA had requested a start date of 1 August. However, a number of our clubs had the potential to play lucrative friendly matches on the weekend of the 1 and 2 August and wanted a much later start date. While the friendlies were lucrative, the standard of opposition involved also helped test our teams ahead of some of their European campaigns.

"To try to accommodate all parties, the SPL announced that the season would start on 8 August. However, George Burley then declared that if the season were not to start on 1 August, he would far prefer that the SPL started its season on 15 August, to ensure clear preparation time for the Scotland World Cup qualifier on 12 August. As a result, and purely to help Scotland's World Cup campaign, the current SPL season kicked off on 15 August."

Doncaster, meanwhile, confirmed the return of a winter break for the SPL, last scheduled in the 2002-03 season, remains a desirable but unfeasible prospect.

"Many voices in Scotland have urged the re-introduction of a winter break and with good reason," he added. "Research has shown that a mid-season break can reduce the number and severity of injuries to players in the second half of a season. And, of course, with the ferocity of the Scottish winter, a fortnight's break can give our clubs' pitches a welcome break.

"Unfortunately, Uefa have decreed that leagues cannot schedule midweek fixture cards against Champions League or Europa League fixtures. Together with the fixture congestion caused by various cup games and replays, and once every two years a World Cup or European Championships, there just is not the scope to fit a winter break into the fixture calendar.

"The SPL have been working harder than ever on our fixture system in recent seasons. And our clubs have indicated their satisfaction with the improvements that we have made. Even supporters have acknowledged this. When this season's fixtures were published, we only received one email of complaint, a marked change from previous seasons.

"Setting fixtures remains an inexact science, though. What is important in every decision made by the SPL Board is that we take account of the concerns and interests of all of our clubs.

"In setting 14 August as the start date for season 2010/2011, I am totally confident that this has happened."