Cup crisis summit as ties could be moved

RESPECT Duke of Edinburgh an Old Firm clash at Ibrox – after Buckingham Palace announced the ceremony is to be held at 3pm.

But Record Sport understands crisis talks were being held throughout yesterday to come up with a range of proposals to keep the competition up and running against the backdrop of a logjammed SPFL fixture list.

Friday night’s tie between Forfar and Dundee United is set to go ahead as planned as well as Livingston’s trip to face Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon.

Stranraer’s visit from Hibs could also go ahead as scheduled with a lunchtime kick-off slot on Saturday.

But four ties – Motherwell v Morton, St Mirren v Inverness Caley, St Johnstone v Clyde and Kilmarnock v Montrose – will have to be moved from their 3pm kickoff slot as a mark of respect to the Duke of Edinburgh.

And it seems certain too that a new slot will have to be found for the top-of-the-bill clash between Rangers and Celtic which is supposed to get under way live on Premier Sports at 4pm on Saturday.

Any rearrangement of that explosive fixture will also require police approval and Hampden sources already suspect cops will look dimly on any plan to move it to a later kick-off time on Saturday night.

One source told us last night: “There are a variety of very complex factors which have to be fully considered.

“There have been a great deal of talks over the weekend and various proposals have been put forward but nothing will be decided until the morning when a planning meeting will take place.”