CRISIS TALKS

From Back Page Regan’s plan and now chief executive Peter Lawwell and boss Brendan Rodgers are set to write to the SFA to demand to know why the transatlantic marathon has been agreed.

As many as eight Celtic players are in line to be called up for the games – leaving them less than a two-week break before preparations are scheduled to begin for next season’s European qualifying campaign.

But Wishart says players at other clubs including Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs – who could all be forced to report back for pre-season even earlier – are equally upset by Regan’s long-haul schedule.

And the union chief confirmed he is set to hurriedly convene crisis talks with his members over what he considers a breach of health and safety rules.

Wishart said: “We need to consult the players likely to be involved in the squad and find out what they want us to do about it as we take our instructions from them.

“It’s not just an issue for the Celtic players. There are players from other Scottish clubs who will be affected.

“We as a trade union regard annual leave as a health and safety issue. It’s a directive from the European Union which is mandatory. People must be given a break from work. We all need it. We all need to recover mentally and physically.

“There is an issue here that these players who are called up might not get that break and that needs to be discussed.”

Wishart ripped into Regan and the SFA for their failure to communicate with a group of players who have been left in the dark since the top brass sacked Gordon Strachan.

He said: “It would have helped if the SFA had discussed these plans with them in advance of the tour being arranged, especially given where the games are to be played, at altitude and in heat at the end of another long season.

“We need to have a bit of dialogue between all parties – the clubs, the players and the SFA – because this affects everybody.

“The players are entitled to raise issues around holidays, rest and recuperation, health and safety welfare and the fact these games are to be played on the other side of the world.

“We don’t have any details because the players first knew about these games when they read it in the papers. There was no consultation with the clubs, SPFL or players themselves.

“There has been a complete breakdown of communication.”