Talks still ongoing over SPL kick-off

The Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Premier League were still locked in stalemate last night over an attempt to postpone the start of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League next season and provide George Burley with the necessary preparation time for the World Cup qualifier against Norway on August 12.

The SFA would like the fixtures on the weekend of August 8 and 9 to be postponed ahead of the trip to Oslo, but that scenario presents the challenge of accommodating the games later in the season.

It is understood that the SFA are prepared to move the Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-finals to midweek in order to free up a spare weekend for the league fixtures to be played.
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However, such a move would only be necessary if a Scottish club reaches the quarter-finals of a European competition, leading to a situation where there would be no available midweek slots.

It is believed that the SFA's ideal situation would be to hold fire on moving the semi-finals until early 2010, when it will be known how far Scottish representatives have progressed in Europe.

The SPL, however, would prefer the issue to be resolved now and that the SFA move the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

The SPL are set to discuss the issue again today. The Old Firm clubs, in particular, are keen to start the domestic season on August 8.

An SPL spokesman said last night: "The SPL board sought clarification on a specific point from the SFA on their proposal. Those discussions took most of today. This clarification has now been received and the outcome will be considered by the SPL board over the next 24 hours."

Taken from the Herald