Could be curtain raisertonewone

IT would be a major contrast to Celtic’s 6-1 stroll in the sunshine against Austrian fourth division side Pinkafeld last summer.

Or Rangers playing three half-hour periods in the blazing heat against League Two Mansfield Town in a behind-closed-doors game at their training base in Portugal.

Instead, imagine the two bitter rivals going head to head at a packed Ibrox in June to begin the end of the old season and give a taste of what’s to come in the new one.

That is the scenario if we pick up where we left off before the season was suspended as coronavirus tightened its grip on Britain.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard might be against merging seasons but with his managing director Stewart Robertson against prizes being handed out unless the season is completed, AND games being played behind closed doors, it doesn’t leave many options.

Apart from the one that would see the season declared null and void, which would suit the Ibrox club – and Hearts – but infuriate Celtic who would be denied a ninth successive crown despite holding a 13-point lead.

The SPFL are in an impossible position and unless they can fit the eight remaining league games in before UEFA’s June 30 deadline then someone won’t be happy.

So why not consider scheduling the remainder of this season for the start of next?

It would certainly make a change from the meaningless pre-season friendlies. If the decision was made now then clubs and players would at least have something to aim towards.

Most players are currently working to individual training programmes and can work as a group once it’s safe to open training grounds again.

They will have had almost three months enforced rest and that beats the 12 days Celtic and Scotland star Callum McGregor had last year.

Yes, it isn’t ideal but in these unprecedented times the solutions will be left-field and there will be bickering regardless of what the decisionmakers come up with.

Those in the Scotland national team could be in competitive action in June anyway if the Euro 2020 play-off against

It would make a change from usual pointless pre-season friendlies

Israel goes ahead. And ending the old season around then could even help the Scottish clubs in European qualifying action (however it is decided) given they will be in competitive action.

Once the winners have been decided across the leagues, the trophy presentation could even take place at the opening game of next season.

It might mean the 2020/21 fixture list will have to be rushed out but it’s a minor obstacle and could be the best solution in a scenario where the authorities are in a no-win situation.

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