League to be extended if Rangers go through

[Johnny5]

If they go through
They play Motherwell on Saturday 17th May
They play St.Mirren on Tuesday 20th May
Celtic play Dundee United on Thursday 22nd May
Hibernian play Motherwell on Thursday 22nd May
They play Aberdeen on Thursday 22nd May
Scottish Cup final 24th May

If they don't go through
They play St.Mirren on Tuesday 13th May
They play Motherwell on Thursday 15th May
The Top 6 then finishes on Sunday as planned

Ending the season on a Thursday imo would be rubbish. They're still fucked.

Thoughts people?

[Iomega]

Not really the best idea as everone will be up in arms and moaning about this.

I agree with the comment about ending the league on the thursday, pretty rubbish.

[RiseAgainst]

that assumes the league is still up for grabs on the Thursday?

also, we both posted about this at the same time

[Johnny5]

Chairman Eddie Thompson has voiced his concerns over the extension in a letter to SPL Secretary Iain Blair today.

Chairman Eddie Thompson said that although the full extent of his correspondence was private he was deeply concerned about the prospect of extending the season until 22 May for a number of reasons. These included the not insignificant financial impact, the 12 day gap from the previous SPL fixture and, very importantly, the fact that supporters, once again, are being asked to change their arrangements to a much less convenient time. The Chairman stressed that he wished Rangers every success in their bid for a UEFA Cup final place but did not see why others should bear the cost of this.

Spot on to be honest!

[RiseAgainst]

Originally Posted by johnny?

Spot on to be honest!

just mind that when a fixture gets moved for Celtic....

moving a game beyond the end of the season is no different to moving one in October

[Johnny5]

Rangers response

Gers Fury At SPL

RANGERS have reacted angrily to the SPL for failing to help them in their quest for UEFA Cup glory AND denying them a level playing field in their pursuit of the Championship.

The governing body today released two fixture models dependent on whether Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final or not.

However, scenario one forces them to play three games in six days ahead of the Final and scenario two means four crucial SPL matches in eight days.

The last time a Scottish team reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2003, a fixture was moved to give them a full week to prepare.

However, the SPL are doing nothing to assist Rangers this time.

Martin BainRangers will also have the ludicrous situation of returning from Aberdeen on May 23 having to play the Scottish Cup Final the next day.

What angers Rangers further is that the SPL have chosen not to extend the season if they don't qualify for the UEFA Cup Final, forcing an unbelievable end to the campaign.

Instead of using May 14 and 21 as dates for the outstanding fixtures with St Mirren and Motherwell, they are demanding that Rangers play four games in eight days to complete the season on May 18.

Chief executive Martin Bain told rangers.co.uk: "We as a club are really bitterly disappointed in the SPL on all fronts.

"It is hardly the best preparation in the lead-up to the UEFA Cup Final - if we get there - to play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday in advance of that.

"So I don't see what the SPL have done for Rangers in terms of aiding them in European competition. They have simply accommodated a fixture

"It's all very well for the SPL to go on about Rangers' co-efficient and how it's great for Scottish football but they are doing nothing to assist us.

"As for the situation of not being in the UEFA Cup Final, we have been asked to play four games in eight days.

"The SPL cite the preservation of sporting integrity in their decision yet Rangers are the only club being asked to play four games in eight days, so there is no sporting integrity.

"What we find baffling is that the SPL can extend the season if we reach the UEFA Cup Final but they can't do it from a sporting integrity point of view if we don't.

"Why is the season simply not extended to conclude on May 27 regardless?"

hahahahah, can't make it up

[RiseAgainst]

its all good, if we win at Parkhead it wont matter when we play the rest of the games!

suprised your yet to post about the ref admitting he robbed Aberdeen johnny....

[Johnny5]

No-one seems to be mentioning Samaras' lob with was ruled out moments before which also a wrong decision. That's why I didn't mention it.

Nevermind.

[RiseAgainst]

the referee certainly wasnt in his interview....

[Baz]

amazing. the argument will go on for WEEKS if all rangers end up with is the cis cup.

when united reached the uefa cup final, its perfectly feasable to argue that the hectic fixtures towards the end of that season (almost exact same as rangers, we were going for, and reached the scottish cup final too) contributed heavily to us losing - the uefa cup final, the scottish cup final and falling in our bid in the league.

[AlanG]

extending the season is not a bad idea. Rangers result in the UEFA cup affects the FIFA co-efficient so them winning *is* good for other teams as it can lead to more European places

[Johnny5]

Originally Posted by Baz

amazing. the argument will go on for WEEKS if all rangers end up with is the cis cup.

when united reached the uefa cup final, its perfectly feasable to argue that the hectic fixtures towards the end of that season (almost exact same as rangers, we were going for, and reached the scottish cup final too) contributed heavily to us losing - the uefa cup final, the scottish cup final and falling in our bid in the league.

Exactly

But i don't think United should've had their season extended either.

No team should get help.

[kj]

Personally I think the SPL are already the laughing stock of world football as far as professional organizations go, so this isn't really all that surprising.